Zahle, LEBANON (Agencies)
The Lebanese town of Zahle was tense with many people in mourning on Monday, hours after two activists close to Lebanon's anti-Syrian parliamentary majority were shot dead at the opening of a party headquarters in the eastern town.
The shooting is seen by observers as a direct result of the lingering political stalemate in the country. The 18th attempt to elect a president, due to take place next Tuesday, is likely to see a fate similar to that of its predecessors, with rival factions now setting their sights on the 2009 parliamentary elections.
The 17 previous attempts have all failed, with MPs who are supposed to pick the new head of state, not even holding the meetings called to elect one.
Funerals for Nasri al-Maruni and Salim Assi, whose son was wounded in the Sunday evening attack, are planned for Tuesday.
Both Assi and al-Maruni were supporters of the Christian Phalange party, a member of Lebanon's ruling coalition.
Police named the suspect as Joseph Zouki and said they had launched a manhunt for him. He is thought to be a supporter of Zahle MP Elie Skaff, a Christian supporter of the opposition.
Intense security measures have been taken in the town with all cars being searched at checkpoints in the search of Zouki and his brother who are thought to be behind the shooting, a security official said. Three other people were wounded in the shooting.
"The security services have conducted several operations and raids where the person responsible for the attack could have taken refuge," the security official said.
Lebanon's general prosecutor Abdallah al-Bitar has arrived in Zahle to conduct an investigation, an AFP correspondent in the area said. Skaff could not be reached for comment.
Sami Gemayel, the son of Phalange leader and former president Amin Gemeyel, had just left the event at the time of the shooting.
Another son, industry minister Pierre Gemayel, was assassinated in November 2006.
The deaths came amid Lebanon's worst political crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.
Lebanon's Syrian- and Iranian-backed opposition refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the Western-backed cabinet of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora since its six ministers quit nearly 18 months ago. |
