Massive Participation in al-Hasan's Funeral at Martyrs Square, Saniora Says No Dialogue before Govt. Leaves
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Thousands of mourners participated in Sunday's funeral of slain Major General Wissam al-Hasan, chief of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Bureau, who was killed by a powerful car bombing on Friday blamed on the Damascus regime.
Anti-Syria opposition chief ex-premier Saad Hariri had called for a huge turnout for the funeral of the fallen general and thousands of people took part in the ceremony outside the Mohammed al-Amine Mosque in Beirut's Martyrs Square.
Hasan was laid to rest next to slain former prime minister Rafik Hariri whose tomb is adjacent to the mosque.
The slain general was the head of Hariri's guard platoon.
"We will not engage in dialogue before the departure of the government. We will not engage in dialogue over the blood of the martyrs and the Lebanese," said ex-PM Fouad Saniora in a speech at Mohammed al-Amine Mosque.
"This government is responsible for the assassination of martyr Maj. Gen. Wissam al-Hasan, so it must leave," he stressed.
"The latest of your achievements was unveiling the conspiracy of (ex-minister Michel) Samaha and (Syrian security chief Ali) al-Mamlouk, so they killed you," Saniora added, addressing al-Hasan.
Saniora called on Prime Minister Najib Miqati to resign or be "accused of covering the criminals."
He also called for forming a "salvation government that represents the Lebanese" and replaces "the government that is trying cover up the crime."
"If you stay in your position, that means that you approve what happened and what will happen ... This government was born from the womb of Hizbullah and Syria," Saniora added.
Hasan investigated the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Hariri in a car bombing also blamed on Syria.
His wife and children on Saturday flew back to Beirut from Paris where he had taken them for safety. His wife Anna was in tears as she arrived at the Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport with sons Mazen, 17, and Majed, 12.
Hasan was also close to ex-PM Saad Hariri and hostile to the regime in Syria. He had been tipped to take over as ISF head at the end of this year.
"We are going to bid farewell to Wissam al-Hasan, but we want to continue what we embarked on in 2005," said al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Ahmed Fatfat.
"The Syrians left Lebanon then, and we want to prevent them for good from returning; we also want the Iranians out," he said, in a reference to Assad's chief regional ally.
He also accused the government and Hizbullah of wanting to "bring Bashar Assad back to Lebanon."
Hours before the 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) funeral, hundreds of people were making their way amid heavy security to Martyrs Square, which was dotted with huge billboards of a saluting Hasan and the slogan "a martyr for truth and justice."
Many carried the flag of Lebanon or those of al-Mustaqbal Movement and the Lebanese Forces. Others held placards with photos of Hasan and slain PM Rafik Hariri.
“One Revolution in Two States,” read a banner carried by mourners.
Tamam Ali, a 27-year-old Mustaqbal activist, warned: "It's not just today. We were here yesterday and we'll be here tomorrow and in the future.
"First of all, we want the fall of this government. We want the Syrian embassy kicked out and we want an end to Hizbullah's power of arms."
Law student Manal Sharqawy said "the Syrians are no longer here, but there are Lebanese who work for them. The government is responsible for what happened and we want them to leave."
Hizbullah called Friday's attack "an attempt to destabilize Lebanon and national unity." Syria condemned what it called a "terrorist, cowardly" attack.
A ceremony was also held to "honor and mourn" Hasan at ISF headquarters, after which his body was transferred to the Mohammed al-Amine Mosque that dominates the skyline of central Beirut for the funeral.
The ISF played a central role in the arrest in August of former Lebanese information minister Michel Samaha, who has close links to Damascus and was charged with planning attacks in Lebanon and transporting explosives in collaboration with Syrian security chief Maj. Gen. Ali Mamlouk.
The opposition March 14 camp has accused the Syrian regime of the assassination and called on Prime Minister Najib Miqati to resign.
Miqati revealed on Saturday that he has taken the decision to “no longer hang on to the premiership,” urging the formation of a national unity government.
He said: “I suspended my decision to resign at President Michel Suleiman's request.”
He made his statements after an extraordinary cabinet session held at the Baabda Palace in wake of the assassination.
The premier explained that Suleiman requested a timeframe for him to consult with members of the national dialogue table over his decision not to remain in the premiership.
Miqati told reporters: “The request for a timeframe stems from a realization that Lebanon is facing a plan to create strife in the country.”
“This is a national issue and we are keen on an preserving the nation. We do not want to leave Lebanon in a vacuum,” he declared.
“Those who have placed personal gain over national interests have met a bad fate, such as exile or assassination,” he added.
“I call on the politicians to unite, set their differences aside, and make the formation of a new government an easy task,” demanded the premier.
On Hasan's murder, he revealed that cabinet decided to refer the case to the judicial council.
He also demanded that the Telecommunications Minister hand over the telecom data in the case, dating back to September 19, to the investigation.
“I do not want to jump to conclusions in the case, but we cannot separate Hasan's murder to that of the arrest of former Minister Michel Samaha,” Miqati noted.
Hasan was killed on Friday in a powerful car bombing in the Ashrafiyeh district in Beirut.
Conflicting reports emerged over the number of dead in the blast with some sides putting the figure at three and others at eight.
At least a hundred people were wounded in the explosion.
21 October 2012, 09:46
19
today is the start of Lebanon regaining its independance. mark this day in your calendars as the day we regain our dignity, freedom and country.
good luck for us all as it is going to be a long hard way, but we shall prevail because we right.
21 October 2012, 09:57
29
God bless the free Lebanese people and may all your martyrs rest in peace. Our battle in Syria against the majoos and the butcher of Kurdaha is one.
21 October 2012, 09:59
16
Those bastards starting with ali baba nasrallah, Aoun, Franjieh, etc... are not sorry that this national hero is now gone... However their day is coming and we will gloat and celebrate their departures... And I pray that it would be as violent as that of this national hero... General Wissam Al-Hasan...
21 October 2012, 10:01
42
No gathering is complete without cheikh Saad taking his shirt off, dropping his pants and Ammar Houry sucking the lollipop.
21 October 2012, 10:15
27
Cant wait for that fat Meerkat nesralla to come out denying he had anything to do with it, murdering traitor.
21 October 2012, 10:24
15
Our beloved Wissam rest in peace for I sincerely hope that we are up to the occasion that you were perfectly suited for. Our only hope for continuing forward is to carry our guns and fight our internal enemy to the last drop. We can only then carry the torch, the holy torch that will be lit forever knowing that Hizboshayatan that murdered you by orders from Iran and Syria will be a grain of sand in the deepest ocean that will never resurface. Rest in peace Wissam and may the mercy of God be upon the Lebanon. We will cry for in golden tears our beloved.
21 October 2012, 11:29
23
I expect everyone to participate in the demonstration for the victims. All sides, inclusive Aoun and Hezb. supporters!
21 October 2012, 13:58
15
how could supporters of the killers be welcomed to the funeral of a man they insulted, how could those supporting a regime involved in this killing be welcome...
how could people supporting a regime ready to plant bombs in christian vilages in the north to accuse sunnis and create war be welcome at the funeral of the man who discoverd the plot?
21 October 2012, 14:46
14
yes microbe... your syrian friends did it... like it or not, these are your allies!
your very same allies ready to plant bombs in christian villages to accuse the sunnis...
like it or not the facts are there....
21 October 2012, 14:53
32
I have to side with flamethrower here. Even if we "suspect" that Aoun for political reason is siding with the syrian regime I do not think that we can hold his supporters accountable. His supporters , support him ,I guess, for other reasons. Anyway, politics aside in this situations. Imagine the courage it takes for aoun supporters to go down in a situation like this.
It´s worth respect.
21 October 2012, 15:16
13
oh! poor FT... yes in your opinion allies will kill each other! elhassan discovered a plot involving people from the syrian regime and those fighting this same regime will prevent him from doing his job!
i bet for you at FPM all the M14 people killed were killed by M14!
and you of course are honorable people , just victims.
see how stupid your logic becomes only to save your balls and defend what facts deny... M8 is reaching the bottom but still are digging!
at least you make us laugh
21 October 2012, 13:17
15
Aoun is an iranian baathist wlayit il fakih stooge and you are his slave. Go read the memoirs of his soliders whom he left in Baabada like a coward. Don't worry about toppling the Syrian regime your number one ally, we are going to hang bashar and send his corpse to you for you to keep under your pillow.
21 October 2012, 19:44
13
trying to cover his operatives in the airport who probably informed the syrians of the arrival of al-hassan into the country,
but seriously, all of the airport employees should have deep background checks conducted on them because it seems that many of them have loyalties elsewhere.
21 October 2012, 14:29
41
Hehe, we see all flags except for Lebanese ones. 3a 2ases "Loubnan awalan"??? LOL
21 October 2012, 14:36
15
open your tv set and watch, you ll see more lebanese flags than in any hezbi meetings!
21 October 2012, 14:47
13
stupid FT.... there are more lebanese flags than in any hezbi meeting, just watch and compare... even here you deny facts you can see with your eyes?
oh! i bet the sh... in it prevents you to see...
21 October 2012, 15:12
12
yes sure... in denial as usual... so brandishing a hezbi flag is more honorable than the lebanese one...brandishing a lebanese flag by those who oppose you is masquerade, but you for sure it s true patriotism!
you are getting stupider by the minute....
i didn t expect more from you...
21 October 2012, 14:55
01
wissam alhassan n'est pas parti avant d'achever sa mission. On voulait la verite' et il nous l'a montree. il nous reste a savoir comment faire pour arreter ceux qui nous tuent et comment nous comporter avec ceux qui continuent a les soutenir jusqu'a en devenir des vrais complices.
21 October 2012, 15:40
12
Hayete Paul. ana ma3 hal mozahara. Bas turn on the TV. It is true there is unfortunately lots of black flags. Hopefully it is not what we suspect it is.
We all want it to be a demonstration for all secret agents in Lebanon to be kicked out...be it syrian, iranian israel or american.
21 October 2012, 16:06
11
Sanyoura wala awta. 3am byehke 3an eskat el hokome w ebno la Wissam Hassan 3am yebke 3ala bayo...
21 October 2012, 16:58
31
The thugs of March 14 (actually, they are nothing but thugs and hoodlums) are on the loose! THE WARRIORS ARE ON THE LOOSE! Surely, they love the institutions! The warriors woke up about 22 years late after collaborating with Syria, yes, Syria, Rafic's Syria!!! 3alehom warriors.
21 October 2012, 17:20
12
so i guess this applies to M8 too as they are STILL collaborating with syria, lol...
a bit stupid you are no?
21 October 2012, 18:21
11
It is true that Rafic was collaborating with Syria. But do you think he had the choice with the Syrian army and moukhabarat occupying Lebanon. When he tried to stopped collaborating he got killed. So much for the other political and public figures that stood against the Syrians.
It does no good accusing each others because no one can wrong or right. What we need is to breach our differences and work together for a strong Lebanon aside from any regional influences.
21 October 2012, 17:07
31
The warriors can amass massive masses! Where were you at the height of the Syrian occupation? Oh, forgot you were busy collaborating with them against ebn baladkon YA WARRIORS AND HEROES. One word sadly describes you, low lives: kharjkon.
21 October 2012, 18:29
11
At the height of Syrian occupation? You know how the Syrian dealt with Lebanon and Lebanese. At the height of the occupying syrian army and moukhabarat, those who tried to oppose Syria got killed. Unfortunately, it is still on going.
Why Kharjkon? It's all Lebanon that is a victim of these assassinations, M8 and M14 alike. Can M8 accept that their political opponent are being assassinated?
21 October 2012, 17:26
11
Eno el mazha el kbire hiye el mufti/sheikh sho ken 3am bi2ol.
Ya3ne fa3liyan al eno lezim kel el 3alam yelha2o Saad el hariri. W haida kalem ktir ghalat yetla3 men rejel din.
21 October 2012, 17:37
17
And examples of M8 Patriotism :)
- http://www.dailystar.com.lb/dailystar/Pictures/2011/11/22/34438_mainimg.jpg
- http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20101014&t=2&i=225846711&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-10-14T184435Z_01_BTRE69D19RA00_RTROPTP_0_LEBANON-IRAN
M14 support the syrian and iranian people ! Not their oppressive regimes !
21 October 2012, 18:07
13
poor FT always trying to get out of his illogic stances...
you forgot qatar KSA koweit... who also helped in reconstructing lebanon, so it makes you the ungrateful moron always criticizing them...
and one guy standing on the statue you generelize it to the whole M14! what a populist idiot you are...
i guess being allied with a country that killed thousands of lebanese and still is doing it is patriotism!!! you are so Full of BS...being allied with a party deciding the fate of a whole country spitting on the institutions is patriotism...
out of context? what a weak argument to justify the unjustifiable...
stupider by the minute those FPMers....
21 October 2012, 18:13
02
FT, I remember M8 demonstration back in 2005 not only there were syrian flags, picture of Assad but also thousands of Syrians demonstrators. M8 is siding with Syria and M14 is siding with who else is helping against the Syrians. Unfortunately Lebanese are stuck in this struggle.
21 October 2012, 18:19
13
btw, i just turned my TV on too, Manar is showing how they discovered gold in Sudan, truly Lebanese.
21 October 2012, 18:36
00
I don't think there need be any clarification or investigation into the subject as to who killed Gen. Wissam Hasan.
Gen. Wissam Hasan was anti-syrian, anti-hezbollah, was the person under whose authority Michel Samaha was apprehended and his allies' plans to terrorize our once-glorious nation foiled. He was going to be promoted to oversee our intelligence branch. He was also involved in the investigations regarding Hariri's murder ( in which he implicated Syrian influence ). A person of such stature, mentality, and vigor being promoted to oversee the entirety of our intelligence agency would greatly threaten outside influence. He was also planning to eventually interrogate Hezbollah lap-dog, Minister of Telecommunications.
There's really no point in arguing, seeing as how the perpetrators knew ahead of almost everybody exactly when he was arriving in Lebanon and where he was staying that unfaithful day and at what time.
It's highly dubious that this preset was coincidental.
21 October 2012, 19:39
11
كان بطل في التعامل مع كل المخابرات الأجنبية ضد أبناء بلده إنهم لا يتركون عملاءهم أحياء أفهمو يا عملاء إسرائيل
21 October 2012, 19:43
01
الربيع العربي والشتاء السوري - وثائقي تركي
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twwjmAmuqeQ&feature=share
21 October 2012, 22:11
00
and the big loser today was...saado.
the biggest joke when saado said that he will send his security from beit el wassat to defend the sarail!!!!!!!!!!is it the same security of may 7???????
21 October 2012, 23:15
00
@FlameThrower M8 M14 HA and all you are all the same any person who carry a flag in Lebanon other them the Lebanese flag regardless what the reason is... need a bullet in the head ...hope to see Geagea and Hassan Nesrallah funeral very soon
22 October 2012, 02:05
00
hahahahaha.yes heroes resist under occupation in it,the same general kisseye resisted but lasting 35 min before making the Speedy Gonzales to French embassy
Are you calling honourable siding with a regime that slaughtered thousands of lebanese?
obviously you know nothing about honour.
22 October 2012, 02:08
00
How much are they paying you FT ?
jeeeeee 24 hours a day ,u must be getting a lot from hizb el jayyeh.
22 October 2012, 06:05
00
I want flamethrower to explain to us why every singl person who was killed since 2005 is in the same political group? Why were they all anti bashar? Tel us why all the remaining anti bashar are either out of the country or cannot leave their houses? Explain to us why every M8 person except nasrallah the coward can roam in lebanon freely and no one ever hurts them?
22 October 2012, 09:09
00
Lebanon, a truly democratic banana republic, has always known how to dispose of uncomfortable personalities. Even the greatest in a mammoth list of 'martyrs' such as the real brave voice of all true Arabs, Antoun Saadeh was disposed of by the Lebanese 'justice' system in a matter of hours. It is an uncivilized society and ALWAYS will be as long as the millions who reside there are beholden to a few money grabbing cockroaches who do not understand the meaning of public SERVANT. Rather than servants they think of themselves as 'Gods'. It sickens me and I hope all educated and thinking humane human.
