Prime Minister of Lebanon Fuad Sinyora wanted assistance from the United Nations relating the investigations carried out to find the murderer of Christian Deputy Antoine Ghanem.
BEIRUT- ın his letter he wrote to the Secretary-General of the UN Ban Ki-moon, Sinyora said he wanted technical assistance for the investigation of the assassination. It is expected that the UN will respond to that wish in a positive way.
Meanwhile, upon the call of the Christian Ketayeb Party, general strike action has been taken in Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon. Official institutions, schools and places carrying out commercial activities did not open their doors.
Parties in power will get together today to discuss the matter.
US President George Bush, Foreign Minister Condoleezza Rice and Secretary-General of the UN condemned the attack.
8 persons, including Antoine Ghanem, a Chrisitan Deputy opposing Syria, were killed and 22 ones were injured by the attack conspired against the convoy of Ghanem in Sin El Fil, a busy commercial and residential area in Beirut, 1 week before the presidential elections in Lebanon. Ghanem, 64, was a member of Falanjist Party.
Ghanem, since the assassination of ex-PM Refik Hariri in 2005, has been the 8 th deputy, opponent of Syria, assassinated. For the last 2,5 years, in Beirut a number of bomb attacks have been organized and frequently political figures who were opposed to Syria have been targetted.
As a final attack in June, Velid Eydo, a deputy opposing Syria, and 9 persons accompanying him had died.
Damascus is being accused, Syria condemns the attack
Syria, blamed due to the murder of Hariri and the other 22 persons as a result of a bomb attack in February 2005, refuses the claims. While allies of Ghanem, killed in yesterday’s attack, are accusing Damascus of the murder, Syrian Government has condemned the attack.
In Lebanon, experiencing the most depressing political process since the civil war in 1975-1990, it is commented that tension triggered by power struggle between the government of PM Fuad Sinyora, backed by the US, and Hizbullah, in opposition and supported by Syria and Iran.
It is claimed by those who are pro-government that Syria kills deputies in government coalition in order to end Sinyora’s majority in the Parliament.
Ahmed Fatfat, a member of cabinet, accused Syria of the attack and claimed that Damascus was the single administration which did not want presidential election to be held in Lebanon.
Crisis may arise before elections
Meanwhile it is concerned that crisis may arise due to the attack organized before the presidential elections to be held in September 25, 2007. Also, reminding the process leading the country to the internal war, two separate government which are rivals are frightened to be formed due to the division in presidential elections.
After President Emil Lahud, pro-Syrian, leaves his office in November 23, supporters of government targets that their candidate will win. On the other hand, Hizbullah and its allies say they will prevent the election of someone not approved by them. It is noted that Hizbullah may prevent reach of 3/2 majority necessary for presidential elections by boycotting elections.
However in case no candidate is decided on by the time Lahud leaves, Sinyora and his cabinet will be automatically entitled to have the executive power. Supporters of opposition claim that under these circumstances, Lahud may appoint a second government. This is expressed that this can cause a brek-up in the country.
After the attack happening yesterday, the number of deputies backing Sinyora government has reduced to 68. Opposition party has 59 deputies in the parliament which has 128 deputies.
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