Zahleh Victims Buried, Gemayel Vows Punishment for Killers

Lebanon”s ruling coalition on Tuesday buried two slain members of the Phalange Party in the eastern town of Zahle amidst tight security measures and a pledge by ex-President Amin Gemayel that the crime would not go unpunished.

 

“We know who committed the Zahle crime … and it would not go unpunished,” Gemayel told mourners at the provincial capital of east Lebanon”s Bekaa valley.

 

Salim Assi and Nasri Marouni were gunned down by an assailant identified as Joseph Zouki after celebrating the inauguration of a Phalange Party office in Zahle.

 

Gemayel, who lost his son industry minister and anti-Syrian MP Pierre in an assassination attempt in November 2006, embraced the daughter of one of the victims as tears rolled down his cheeks.

 

Portraits of the two victims were hung all over Zahle, which had observed a national mourning on Monday and where stores were closed for the funeral.

 

Zouki was described as a supporter of Christian opposition Zahle MP Elie Skaff who is close to Christian opposition leader Gen. Michel Aoun.

 

Security forces are searching for Zouki and his brother, Toomi, who is thought to have also taken part in the attack.

 

Meanwhile, police launched a massive manhunt for the two suspected killers throughout the Bekaa and Mount Lebanon.