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| Beirut readies for Wissam al-Hassan funeral | Beirut readies for Wissam al-Hassan funeral |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Lebanese opposition leader Saad Hariri has called on all citizens to attend a funeral for security chief Wissam al-Hassan, who was killed by a car bomb. | Lebanese opposition leader Saad Hariri has called on all citizens to attend a funeral for security chief Wissam al-Hassan, who was killed by a car bomb. |
| "Every one of you is personally invited," said Mr Hariri, a former PM and leading anti-Syrian politician. | "Every one of you is personally invited," said Mr Hariri, a former PM and leading anti-Syrian politician. |
| Mr Hariri has blamed Damascus for Friday's bomb attack, which killed three people and wounded dozens. | Mr Hariri has blamed Damascus for Friday's bomb attack, which killed three people and wounded dozens. |
| There has been anti-Syrian unrest in several parts of Lebanon, with opposition protesters blocking roads. | There has been anti-Syrian unrest in several parts of Lebanon, with opposition protesters blocking roads. |
| Syria's brutal civil is already being played out on the streets of Tripoli, the northern Lebanese city where pro-Syrian (Alawite) and Sunni anti-Assad factions have fought fierce gun battles on at least two occasions this year. | Syria's brutal civil is already being played out on the streets of Tripoli, the northern Lebanese city where pro-Syrian (Alawite) and Sunni anti-Assad factions have fought fierce gun battles on at least two occasions this year. |
| One of General Wissam al-Hassan's most high-profile recent moves was the uncovering of an alleged plot that led to the arrest of a former minister, Michel Samaha. | One of General Wissam al-Hassan's most high-profile recent moves was the uncovering of an alleged plot that led to the arrest of a former minister, Michel Samaha. |
| He was detained on charges of collaborating with members of the Syrian government to import explosives and launch attacks in Lebanon. | He was detained on charges of collaborating with members of the Syrian government to import explosives and launch attacks in Lebanon. |
| It would, so the argument goes, suit the purposes of the Assad government to "export" its civil war to Lebanon - a warning to those who are calling for Assad's removal that wider regional conflict would be the only outcome if the regime in Damascus were to fall. | It would, so the argument goes, suit the purposes of the Assad government to "export" its civil war to Lebanon - a warning to those who are calling for Assad's removal that wider regional conflict would be the only outcome if the regime in Damascus were to fall. |
| Mr Hassan, who was 47, headed the intelligence arm of Lebanon's internal security forces and was close to Mr Hariri. | Mr Hassan, who was 47, headed the intelligence arm of Lebanon's internal security forces and was close to Mr Hariri. |
| His funeral is due to be held in Martyrs' Square in central Beirut. | His funeral is due to be held in Martyrs' Square in central Beirut. |
| He will be buried alongside Mr Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, an official is quoted as saying by AFP news agency. | He will be buried alongside Mr Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, an official is quoted as saying by AFP news agency. |
| Rafik Hariri was killed by a car bomb in Beirut in 2005. Mr Hassan led an investigation implicating Damascus in the attack. | Rafik Hariri was killed by a car bomb in Beirut in 2005. Mr Hassan led an investigation implicating Damascus in the attack. |
| Saad Hariri said the funeral should be attended by "all of Lebanon, which Wissam al-Hassan protected from the plots of [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad". | Saad Hariri said the funeral should be attended by "all of Lebanon, which Wissam al-Hassan protected from the plots of [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad". |
| Mr Hassan also recently organised the arrest of a former minister accused of planning a Syrian-sponsored bombing campaign in Lebanon. | Mr Hassan also recently organised the arrest of a former minister accused of planning a Syrian-sponsored bombing campaign in Lebanon. |
| A day after the bombing, Prime Minister Najib Mikati suggested the attack had been connected with that case. | A day after the bombing, Prime Minister Najib Mikati suggested the attack had been connected with that case. |
| A day of national mourning was held on Saturday. Residents in the mainly Christian district of Ashrafiya, where the bomb went off, held a vigil for the victims. | A day of national mourning was held on Saturday. Residents in the mainly Christian district of Ashrafiya, where the bomb went off, held a vigil for the victims. |
| Burning tyres | Burning tyres |
| Also on Saturday, Mr Mikati offered to resign as PM, but President Michel Suleiman asked him to stay on in the national interest. | Also on Saturday, Mr Mikati offered to resign as PM, but President Michel Suleiman asked him to stay on in the national interest. |
| Opposition supporters set up roadblocks and burnt tyres in Beirut, denouncing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Lebanese allies. | Opposition supporters set up roadblocks and burnt tyres in Beirut, denouncing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his Lebanese allies. |
| Similar protests were held in Sidon in the south, Tripoli in the north and in the Bekaa Valley in the east. | Similar protests were held in Sidon in the south, Tripoli in the north and in the Bekaa Valley in the east. |
| Tension in Lebanon has been rising as a result of the Syrian conflict. | Tension in Lebanon has been rising as a result of the Syrian conflict. |
| Lebanon's religious communities are divided between those who support the government of Syrian President Assad - including many Shias - and those mostly from the Sunni community who back the rebels. | Lebanon's religious communities are divided between those who support the government of Syrian President Assad - including many Shias - and those mostly from the Sunni community who back the rebels. |
| Lebanon's Shia militant group Hezbollah - a close ally of the Syrian government - condemned the bombing. | Lebanon's Shia militant group Hezbollah - a close ally of the Syrian government - condemned the bombing. |
| Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi called it a "cowardly, terrorist act". He said such incidents were "unjustifiable wherever they occur". | Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi called it a "cowardly, terrorist act". He said such incidents were "unjustifiable wherever they occur". |
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