Shatah, his Bodyguard Laid to Rest in Downtown Beirut
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Slain former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah and his bodyguard Tareq Bader were laid to rest on Sunday after a political and popular funeral in downtown Beirut.
The victims were buried at the mausoleum of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut.
Heavy security measures were in place Sunday around Beirut during the burialShatah and Tareq Bader, who were killed in a car bombing on Friday.
Shatah, 62, a Sunni Muslim former finance minister and adviser to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, was killed by a car bomb in Beirut on Friday along with six other people.
Dozens of other people were wounded in the blast, which officials said involved about 50-60 kilograms (110-132 pounds) of explosives.
Political figures, including caretaker Premier Najib Miqati, March 14 officials, head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora, and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, continued to arrive at the Mohammed al-Amin Mosque in downtown Beirut to offer their condolences to Shatah's family.
President Michel Suleiman declared Sunday a day of national mourning, and several army vehicles were stationed around Beirut's downtown area, where Shatah was killed.
Cars were forbidden from parking along main roads in the area during the funeral.
Shatah was seen as an influential figure in the March 14 coalition, which is opposed to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad and its Hizbullah.
He was interred at the mausoleum of Hariri's father Rafik, who was also killed in a huge suicide bombing on the Beirut seafront on February 14, 2005, an assassination his supporters blamed on Syria.
Friday's attack revived painful memories of bombings that rocked the country between 2005 and 2012, targeting prominent figures critical of Damascus.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but March 14 implied Damascus and Hizbullah were behind it without naming them, saying in a statement that "the criminal is the same, he who is thirsty for the blood of Syrians... he and his Lebanese allies."
Syria has denied the "wrong and arbitrary accusations," while Hizbullah said the bombing was aimed at destroying "national unity".
29 December 2013, 11:05
85
There will be more funerals for moderate and secular Sunnis as they are purged by extremest Sunnis ...
29 December 2013, 18:22
43
sagh, u're an animal with no education and manners...
I don't think u have a religion...
29 December 2013, 11:43
66
at least show a bit of decency in front of death!
once more you are accusing the victim of committing a terrorist act on itself!
m8 is just a bunch of terrorist murderers
29 December 2013, 12:39
45
terrorist ~ "he is an a-n-i-m-a-l- and will have to be put down soon."
Exactly the behavior I posted about above ... and as usual you begin with those closest to you ...
29 December 2013, 13:42
43
Yes be descent, terrorist usually comits suicides by several bullets, should be gazed during the night, should have their women and childreen helpped and executed in front of them... That's the civilized way to act...
Like us we should have 13 political assassinations, assassination attempt, criminal made saints, black shirts, 7ayyar...and say thank you...
Off course man, again plus one for you, keep it up
29 December 2013, 12:07
55
This has stared way before extremists have been in Syria and now in Lebanon. Do not fool neither yourself nor us about takfiris. The real enemy of Syria and HA are not only sunni moderates but all moderates. The list of Christians and Sunni leaders assassinated is a testimony of this.
To exist HA and Syrian regimes need to have extremists in front of them in order to justify their presence. HA wants to eliminate the moderates Lebanese as they represent an obstacle to its hegemony. Remember who was arming Fatah el Islam in Nahr el Bared? Who said that Nahr el Bared was a red line? Who helped escape and give a refuge in Syria to the leader of Fatah el Islam?
29 December 2013, 13:44
31
Impressive, i do agree on this one greatpierro... At last some comon sense, thanks bro...
29 December 2013, 13:26
22
@mckinl
I hope you are wrong. I also hope that our security forces will take drastic preventive measures to prevent any more assasinations
29 December 2013, 11:43
54
at least show a bit of decency in front of death!
once more you are accusing the victim of committing a terrorist act on itself!
m8 is just a bunch of terrorist murderers
29 December 2013, 13:29
34
I think the Lebanese should seize the momentum to impose a de facto government a pro western gov't to restore peace, stability and economic growth
M8 go to hell
29 December 2013, 13:57
33
I back up this idea, but we will be heading for a new 7ayyar....
U see this is terrorism or u do what we want or we take the streets and kill u till u do what we want... Pure terrorism....
29 December 2013, 14:11
33
Well ya reit bro ya reit... Like most of us think even if they donnot say, i wish i was rich, like we all do.. But no maybe lotto next time..
But what does it change to what i hv said about this seem really the defenition of terrorism?...
No plus one for u.. But keep trying u might improve...
29 December 2013, 14:18
22
By definition, terrorism is the systematic use of violence as a mean for coercion for political purposes. The nuance is at this stage everything is clear, the criminal is known so the question is do we resort to your horrible acts or we lay low and accept defeat. Personally, i hope they pay for it but not with blood instead in jail because the worst thing that can happen to us is to lead by your bloody example
29 December 2013, 14:50
13
How come the rest of the people who were killed in the blast aren't receiving such a prestigious funeral? Aren't they people as well? Didn't they get killed because of this? Again, different classes in Lebanon. Nice to see that harriri attended.
