The funeral of Pierre Gemayel, the murdered Christian minister, in Beirut yesterday was attended by more than 800,000 people and became a demonstration of defiance against Syria and Hezbollah, its Lebanese ally. The huge rally has bolstered the embattled Western-backed Government, with anti-Syrian politicians announcing the start of a second “Cedar revolution” to remove Syrian influence from Lebanon. The country remains dangerously split. Many fear that the heated passions aroused by the death of Mr Gemayel, the Lebanese Industry Minister, could plunge Lebanon into renewed sectarian strife. Many of the demonstrators who arrived at Martyrs Square chanted slogans against Hezbollah and Émile Lahoud, the staunchly pro-Syrian President.
Draped in the Cedar tree emblem of the Phalange Party, the political organisation founded by the assassinated ministerÂ’s grandfather, GemayelÂ’s coffin was carried through the crowd toward the St George Maronite Cathedral beside the square. GemayelÂ’s wife, Patricia, walked behind the coffin, alongside her husbandÂ’s weeping mother and sister. The funeral mass was attended by leading Lebanese anti-Syrian politicians, religious figures and foreign diplomats.
The shooting of Mr Gemayel in his car on Tuesday has given renewed vigour to the anti-Syrian March 14 coalition, which forms the majority in parliament and the Government. The pro-Syrian opposition bloc, spearheaded by Hezbollah, has been on the offensive in a bid to overturn the Western-backed Government.