Anti-Syrian figure killed in Beirut bombing

A car bomb has gone off in Beirut, killing an anti-Syrian politician. George Hawi died instantly – the only victim of the explosion in the Wata Musaitbi area of the Lebanese capital.

It is the second killing of an anti-Syrian figure this month – a newspaper columnist was blown up in his car in a similar attack on June 2nd. Hawi was the former leader of the Lebanese Communist Party and was active in the recent parliamentary election, campaigning on behalf of left-wing candidates. His killing comes just a day after the results of the country’s parliamentary elections were announced, elections which propelled the son of the assassinated former prime minister to prominence. The Communist Party is pointing the finger of blame at the Israeli secret services, while the Justice Minister says Hawi’s killing was aimed at fracturing Lebanese society.

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