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Beirut funeral for Wissam al-Hassan draws thousands | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The coffins of Lebanese security chief Wissam al-Hassan and his bodyguard have arrived in downtown Beirut's Martyrs' Square for their funeral. | |
Thousands of mourners and protesters have gathered in the central square for the event. | |
Hassan was killed along with his bodyguard and a woman working nearby by a car bomb on Friday, an attack which opposition figures blamed on Syria. | |
Many at the funeral are protesting against Syria and its Lebanese allies. | |
The BBC's Wyre Davies at Martyrs' Square says the funeral is likely to turn into a huge rally against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, though turnout is lower than the organisers may have hoped. | |
Everyone's fear is that the civil war in Syria may spill over into Lebanon and that more violence is inevitable, he reports. | |
"Really, we are waiting for the fall of the regime in Syria. Until that happens, there can be no peace in Lebanon," one woman in Martyrs' Square told our correspondent. | |
Tight security | |
President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Mikati - who has faced calls for his resignation over the killing - greeted Hassan's coffin at an earlier ceremony at the headquarters of the Internal Security Forces (ISF). | |
Hassan headed up the intelligence branch of the ISF. The car bomb exploded close to its offices in the east Beirut neighbourhood of Ashrafiya. | |
His wife and children were also there, flown over from Paris where they had been sent for their safety some months ago | |
Tight security was in place in Beirut ahead of the funeral. Protests had been held across Lebanon on Saturday; roads around Beirut were blocked with burning tires. | |
Hassan, who was 47, was close to the 14 March opposition and the Hariri family, part of the anti-Syrian opposition. | |
He will be buried alongside former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. | |
Rafik Hariri was killed by a car bomb in Beirut in 2005. Hassan led an investigation implicating Damascus in the attack. | 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". | 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. | 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 Mikati suggested the attack had been connected with that case. | |
A day of national mourning was held on Saturday. | |
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". |
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. |