Lebanese bid farewell to slain Christian leader

updated 12:45 p.m. ET Nov. 23, 2006

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese bid farewell to an assassinated young Christian politician Thursday, turning his funeral into a powerful show of anger against Syria and its allies, led by the militant Shiite Muslim Hezbollah.

The sprawling funeral of Pierre Gemayel reinvigorated supporters of the U.S.-backed government in a showdown with Hezbollah and its pro-Syrian allies that threatens to split this small Middle East nation along sectarian lines.

"The second Independence Uprising was launched today for change and it will not stop," Gemayel's father, former President Amin Gemayel, told the crowd in Beirut's downtown, speaking from behind a panel of bulletproof glass. "I pledge to you that we will soon take steps so that your efforts will not go in vain."

The throng applauded as the coffin of Pierre Gemayel, wrapped in the flag of his Phalange Party -- white with a green cedar emblem -- was carried past the square to nearby St. George's Cathedral, where the packed congregation sang hymns. The 34-year-old Gemayel's wife wept in the church, leaning on his mother's shoulder.

Calls for unity
The head of the Maronite Church, Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir called for unity to save the country, addressing a congregation of family and dignitaries who included the French foreign minister and the Arab League secretary general. The country's top Shiite politician, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a top Hezbollah ally, also attended in an attempt to show national unity.

But in the wake of Gemayel's slaying, Lebanon is polarized to a degree not seen since the 1975-1990 civil wars, sharply divided between anti-Syrian Christians and Sunni Muslims and pro-Syrian Shiites. Many fear Thursday's funeral could be the first round of demonstrations that could bring the political crisis into the volatile streets.

In Martyrs' Square, the crowd of men, women and children waved red, white and green Lebanese flags and posters of Gemayel with the slogans "We want to live" and "Awaiting justice." Police estimated some 800,000 people participated in the rally and funeral.

The square was the scene of mass anti-Syrian rallies in last year's "Cedar Revolution," which helped end Damascus' domination of Lebanon. But in contrast to those protests, which were often festive, Thursday's funeral rally was charged with anger -- at Damascus and its allies in Lebanon.

"They will not take away our determination to live ... and to be free," Walid Jumblatt, the Druse political leader and senior anti-Syrian figure who has accused Damascus of the assassination, told the crowd. Still, he said, he was open for a settlement with the government opponents. "We are for dialogue."

Many in the crowd burned pictures of Syria's president and Lebanon's pro-Syrian leaders. One man carried a large banner with the pictures of Lebanon's assassinated leaders and the words: "Syria's killing regime. Enough!"

Several of the politicians speaking in the square vowed the next step would be the removal of President Emile Lahoud, a staunch Syria supporter. Lahoud was at the Baabda presidential palace, where heavy security measures were taken amid fears that protesters would later march there to attempt to force the president to resign.

Anger also was pointed at Hezbollah, which had been calling for mass protests of its own in an effort to topple Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's government, which is dominated by opponents of Syria.

'They do not scare us'
After Gemayel's killing, the guerrilla group said it would not hold demonstrations for the time being -- but it is likely to feel a need to respond to Thursday's funeral with its own show of strength.

"If they (Hezbollah) have 30,000 rockets, we have 30,000 words. They do not scare us," said Joseph Hanna, a 45-year-old rental car shop owner and Gemayel backer who came to the rally to show his support of Saniora's government.

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