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Beirut readies for Wissam al-Hassan funeral | Beirut readies for Wissam al-Hassan funeral |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Lebanese security forces have set up road blocks and cordoned off Beirut's central square for the funeral of security chief Wissam al-Hassan. | |
Hassan was among three people killed by a car bomb on Friday, in an attack which opposition leader Saad Hariri blamed on Syria. | |
Mr Hariri has called on as many people as possible to attend the funeral. | |
A BBC correspondent says the funeral may turn into a huge rally against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. | |
Everyone's fear is that the civil war in Syria may spill over into Lebanon and that more violence is inevitable, Wyre Davies reports from Beirut. | |
There has already 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. 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 Bashar al-Assad". | |
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". |
One Lebanese mourner in Beirut, Samer al-Hirri, said he had travelled some distance to pay his respects. | |
"Wissan al-Hassan is from our area and we came here to bid him farewell," he told the Associated Press news agency. "He was killed while defending his country." | |
Are you in Lebanon? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Lebanon? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |