Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 21, 2007

Funeral Held in Beirut for Slain Anti-Syrian Legislator 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19955DD:A6F02AD83191E160AE0B97626312888E9574F7DCC14957C0 Antoine Ghanem was
killed in bomb blast in Christian suburb of east Beirut, Wednesday
Lebanon's top political leaders and hundreds of ordinary citizens
turned out for the funeral Friday, of slain Christian lawmaker Antoine
Ghanem. Edward Yeranian reports from Beirut.

Church bells tolled as thick clusters of mourners crowded the streets
leading to the Sacred Heart church, where funeral services were held
to honor slain Christian member of parliament Antoine Ghanem.

Ghanem died Wednesday after a car bomb targeting his vehicle exploded
during rush hour traffic in an East Beirut suburb, killing him and six
others.







Relatives and friends of Ghanem carry coffin draped with Lebanese
flag, 21 Sep 2007

Ghanim's coffin, draped with the flags of Lebanon, was carried into
the church as young supporters waved flags of his Phalange political
party.

Family members, including his widow and daughter, greeted a long-line
of celebrities and politicians come to pay their last respects.

Lebanon's top leaders, including pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud
were present for the service, alongside former President Amine
Gemayel, Druze Leader Walid Jumblatt, Christian Lebanese Forces leader
Samir Geagea and pro-government coalition leader Sa'ad Hariri.

Former president Gemayel, whose party the Ghanem belonged to,
delivered the eulogy saying that Lebanon's upcoming presidential
elections will proceed next week, as scheduled.

Every martyr that falls among us, he said, is a force propelling us
forward, to a more prosperous future, but the time has come to get rid
of our fear for one another because fear of outsiders unites a people,
but fear amongst ourselves divides us.

Schools, universities, stores, and many government offices were
closed.

Security remains extremely tight along arteries leading to the funeral
and vehicles were towed from busy commercial districts to prevent the
occurrence of another car bomb.

Ghanem was a member of the pro-government coalition locked in a power
struggle with opposition groups backed by Syria.

Supporters of the embattled pro-government coalition were angry,
accusing Syria of killing Ghanem to make way for their own candidate
for president.

Syria has denies the charges. Pro-Syrian Parliament speaker Nabih
Berri insists that parliament will meet as scheduled this Tuesday,
despite the assassination, to chose a new president for Lebanon.

Ghanem was the fourth member of parliament and eighth prominent
anti-Syrian figure to be killed in Lebanon in the last two years.
Syria has denied involvement in any of the attacks.


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