World leaders condemned the assassination of prominent Lebanese Christian leader Pierre Gemayel and

(21 Nov 2006) HEADLINE: Assassination Threatens Instability in Lebanon
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CAPTION: World leaders condemned the assassination of prominent Lebanese Christian leader Pierre Gemayel and called it an act of terrorism. (Nov. 21)
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[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]

Calls for calm after a prominent Lebanese politician was assassinated.
Witnesses say a car rammed Pierre Gemayel's (jeh-MAY'-elz) vehicle... and then gunmen stepped out and shot him at point-blank range.
The gravely injured anti-Syrian leader was rushed to a Beirut hospital Tuesday. But a short time later, he was pronounced dead.

Hundreds of people gathered there and supporters shouted slogans and held signs.
Some blamed Syria for the assassination that's being called "an act of terrorism" by world leaders.

SOT: we are confronted by what appears to be another terrorist assassination in beirut. It's a very great tragedy.
(John Bolton, US Ambassador to the United Nations)

SOT:
(pres Bush)

SOT: We condemn this murder utterly. It is completely without any justification at all. We need to do everything we can, particularly at this moment, to protect democracy in lebanon.
(Tony Blair, British Prime Minister)

Syria denies any role and condemned the deadly attack.
The slain lawmaker's father-- who's the former president of Lebanon-- said his son died as a "martyr" for the cause of Lebanon. He urged supporters not to seek revenge.

Pierre Gemayel is the fifth anti-Syrian politician slain in two years in Lebanon.
The assassination comes just days after Hezbollah's (hez-BUH'-lahz) leader threatened a wave of street protests aimed at bringing down Lebanon's government if it ignores the group's demands to form a national unity Cabinet.
Tim McGuire, the Associated Press.

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