Lebanon mourns Gebran Tueni
The date for the funeral has been set while accusations against Syria become more and more explicit.
Beirut (AsiaNews) Schools, universities and shops are closed in the capital today: all Lebanon is in mourning for the death of Gebran Tueni, the renowned anti-Syrian journalist and MP who was killed yesterday in a car bomb blast along with another three people.
Gebran's father, Ghassan Tueni, who came from Paris, said yesterday that "the death of Gebran, my third son, for me and for all free citizens, is a necessary step towards the true construction of Lebanon". Ghassan urged calm and prayer, "the only way to help Lebanon overcome every crisis". The Tueni family, of Greek-Orthodox faith, decided that the funeral service of Gebran will be held tomorrow at 12 at the Church of St George right in the heart of Beirut.
The most widely circulated Arabic-language newspaper, An Nahar (the Day), of which he was director, came out with a large red headline: "They killed Gebran Tueni, but they cannot suffocate his free voice". A special issue was also published with a full-page photo of the murdered MP, his hand raised in a V-sign, with the caption: "Gebran Tueni has joined the ranks of Lebanon's martyrs. His death, like that of Samir Kassir, both anti-Syrians, compels us to clean out Lebanon of the mines planted by the Syrian regime during its occupation."
Other newspapers have also accused Syria in an explicit manner. Al Mustaqbal ran a direct title: "The Syrian security regime assassinates Gebran Tueni".
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