ABU KAIS will have details shortly. I'm tracking the photos as well, and will post them when I can catch up.
UPDATE: Video here soon now.
Update: The plot thickens:
The assassination comes 6 days before a scheduled parliament session to elect a president. The pro-Syrian and Hizbullah-led coalition threatened to boycott the session if March 14 used a majority vote to elect a president. Many in March 14 expected political assassinations to precede the election and reduce the parliament's majority. The Assad regime opposes a president from March 14, and insists on a pro-Syrian president to safeguard its interests and the interests of its allies in the country, including Hizbullah. The Assad regime also wants a president to "open a dialogue; on recent UNSC resolutions calling on Syria to respect Lebanese sovereignty and establishing a tribunal to try those responsible for the Hariri assassination and other political crimes in the country.Antoine Ghanem
...
Antoine Ghanem was reportedly a moderate well liked by MPs from both sides of the divide. With his murder, March 14 lost another vote, and may not feel safe anymore to stay in the country, let alone head to parliament on September 25th to elect a president. Many March 14 MPs are outside the country. As for the Assad regime, it has just reconfirmed to the world, especially to the French, that it does not care about dialogue or open relations with the west.
Update: More here, here, and here.
Lebanese firemen extinguish the fire from a car after an explosion in eastern Beirut September 19, 2007. A car bomb exploded in the Christian eastern part of Beirut on Wednesday, killing at least five people and wounding four in an attack, security sources said. REUTERS/KHalil Hassan (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Khalil Hassan (LEBANON)
A Lebanese soldier stands next to a body... REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
Lebanese Red Cross workers move a victim... REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
The Associated Press is already starting to spin this like the scum that they are:
A Lebanese inspector, checks a dead body which lies on the ground at the scene where a powerful bomb killed a pro-government Parliament member in a Christian suburb east of Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday Sept. 19, 2007. A powerful bomb killed a pro-government Parliament member and six others Wednesday in a Christian suburb east of the Lebanese capital, security officials said. The blast targeted Antoine Ghanem, 64, a member of the right-wing Christian Phalange Party.(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
"Pro-government?" He's a member of the government, how in the world could he possibly have been "anti-Government?" Note also the immediate attempt to tar him as a "right-winger."
If the press were as intellectually honest as they think they are, you'd think that the slightly more accurate "ANTI-SYRIAN" label would fit into play there somewhere. Heck, even REUTERS manages to get this one right—The caption for the photograph of Mr. Ghanem at the top of this article reads:
Anti-Syrian Christian lawmaker Antoine Ghanem is seen in this undated file photo. Ghanem was killed in a car bomb explosion in the eastern part of Beirut on September 19, 2007, security sources said. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/Files (LEBANON)
(AP Photo/ Grace Kassab)
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo/ Grace Kassab)
REUTERS/Houssam Shbaro (LEBANON)
(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
(AFP/Joseph Barrak)
REUTERS/Paul Nicolaos (LEBANON)
(AP Photo/Grace Kassab)
REUTERS/Paul Nicolaos (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
(AP Photo/Grace Kassab)
REUTERS/Fadi Ghalioum (LEBANON)
REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
An injured man speaks on his mobile... REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)
Tags: fadi ghalioum grace kassab houssam shbaro joseph barrak khalil hasan paul nicolaos AFP AP REUTERS #Lebanon
Comments:
#1 Rooster 19-Sep-2007
Sooooooo..... where's Beirut?
#2 captainfish 19-Sep-2007
Oh Dear Lord.
Peace be with them.
Lord comfort them and strengthen them.
I am watching cnn around 7pm cst. so far no mention of this bombing.
How horrific. I am really hoping that this now turns Lebanon into a pro anti-terror war supporter like Pakistan and Turkey.
Just think of the damage the war on terror could do if we were allowed to join with Lebanon and go after terrorists from any group.
Beirut should have been leveled long ago when they attacked our Marines. And that barracks bombing was not the first attack they hit us with during that period. We never responded so they got stronger and stronger till we ran away. Now, we should run back in there and finish the job (with permission after strongly suggesting our help).
This would really surround Syria and Iran then. And in addition might even give Israel the feeling that we support them once again and to NOT give away its holy land.
I pray there is a very strong reaction by the March 14 supporters and kick out the pro-syrian and hezballah members from the government. Time to clean house.
Peace be with them.
Lord comfort them and strengthen them.
I am watching cnn around 7pm cst. so far no mention of this bombing.
How horrific. I am really hoping that this now turns Lebanon into a pro anti-terror war supporter like Pakistan and Turkey.
Just think of the damage the war on terror could do if we were allowed to join with Lebanon and go after terrorists from any group.
Beirut should have been leveled long ago when they attacked our Marines. And that barracks bombing was not the first attack they hit us with during that period. We never responded so they got stronger and stronger till we ran away. Now, we should run back in there and finish the job (with permission after strongly suggesting our help).
This would really surround Syria and Iran then. And in addition might even give Israel the feeling that we support them once again and to NOT give away its holy land.
I pray there is a very strong reaction by the March 14 supporters and kick out the pro-syrian and hezballah members from the government. Time to clean house.
