Beirut (AsiaNews) A peaceful sit-in in memory of Pierre Gemayel took place in the Jdeideh neighbourhood, Beirut North, where a week ago the industry minister, a Christian, was killed in an attack. Sources close to the meeting organisers told AsiaNews that the commemoration, promoted by the March 14 Movement, was non violent.
Participants marched with pictures of the dead political leader till downtown Beirut where they lit a lamp near the tomb of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, killed almost two years ago.
In visiting Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, a Shia, former president and Pierre's father, Amin Gemayel, expressed home "that Lebanon would undergo a reawakening and renaissance far from hatred and vengeance". He also expressed his full confidence in the UN international tribunal set up to investigate Hariri's death and renewed his appeal for renewed inter-Lebanese talks which were suspended when the Lebanese government's Shia ministers resigned.
An appeal in favour of the international tribunal has also been made by Muslim leaders who have gathered in the presence of Lebanon's Sunni Grand Mufti, Mohamed Rashid Kabbani, and the Vice President of the Shia Higher Council, Abdel Amir Kabalan.
In the meeting the religious leaders urged everyone to back the UN international tribunal as the only way to find the truth about the series of violent acts that have affected the country in last few years. They also condemned the assassination for Pierre Gemayel, whom they called a martyr for national unity.
According to AsiaNews sources, the Muslim leaders will meet Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, and later Hezbollah's Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, to discuss ways to solve the problems that have developed in the last two years.
