Gemayel Assassination Update

As referenced by the Sandmonkey, Beirut Spring has brought to attention an article in the Kuwait Times from Saturday 18 November where another anti-Syrian Christian leader in Lebanon, Samir Geagea warned that assassination attempts were likely in light of Hizballah's declared intention to topple the Lebanese government after it did not accede to Hizballah's demand that it be given veto power in the coalition.

Geagea said in an interview with reuters "I think there might be operations targeting ministers and I take this opportunity to say it publicly and especially to tell the ministers to take all precautions,"

Should the government loose three more ministers it would automatically fall thereby achieving Syria's goal of thwarting the formation of a UN-backed tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri in February 2005 and achieving Hizballah's goal of bringing down the government.

BEIRUT -- Anti-Syrian Christian leader Samir Geagea said yesterday efforts to topple Lebanon's Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora could lead to assassination attempts against cabinet ministers.

Geagea, a former militia chief whose Lebanese Forces party has one minister in the cabinet, said Syria was determined to stop the formation of a UN-backed tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. He did not say who might try to kill ministers.

Lebanon plunged deeper into crisis this month when six ministers, including all five Shia Muslims, quit the cabinet after the collapse of all-party talks over giving the pro-Syrian Hezbollah and its allies a decisive say in government.

All the remaining ministers are members of, or close to, the anti-Syrian majority coalition.

If the government lost three more ministers, it would automatically fall.

"There are no three ministers who will resign of course, but someone might think of 'sacking them', in quotes, by pushing them to a final resignation. Thus the government falls. Therefore we have big fears over the ministers," he said.

"I think there might be operations targeting ministers and I take this opportunity to say it publicly and especially to tell the ministers to take all precautions," Geagea said in a telephone interview from his north Lebanon home.