Lebanese Minister Gemayel Assassinated

Britain and the United States have condemned the killing in Beirut of the Lebanese cabinet minister and prominent anti-Syrian politician Pierre Gemayel.

In Washington, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns denounced the assassination as an "act of terrorism."

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said her government was "dismayed" at the assassination, saying "there are enough problems in Lebanon already."

Israeli Foreign Minister Tsipi Livni, speaking in London at a joint news conference with Beckett, said the killing "is another example of the kind of region we're living in."

Syria's official news agency SANA said Damascus strongly condemned the killing.

Gemayel, who was Lebanon's industry minister, was gunned down as his convoy drove through the Christian Sin el-Fil neighborhood. Gemayel died en route to hospital.

The son of a former president, Gemayel was a member of the Phalange party and supporter of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, which is locked in a power struggle with pro-Syrian factions led by Hizballah.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora earlier said that his cabinet was legitimate despite the recent resignation of six pro-Syrian ministers, and warned that any antigovernment protests could turn violent.

Pro-Syrian Hizballah and its allies are planning street protests this week to topple Siniora's government, which they accuse of being allied with the United States.

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org