21 June 2005 -- Authorities say a prominent Lebanese politician was killed today when a bomb ripped through his car in Beirut.
The victim was identified as George Hawi, the former leader of the Lebanese Communist Party.
Hawi, a Christian, frequently spoke out against Syrian intelligence and interference in Lebanese affairs.
It was the second killing of an anti-Syrian figure in Beirut this month. Newspaper columnist Samir Kassir was killed on 2 June when a similar explosion destroyed his car.
Hawi's killing came two days after the end of Lebanon's parliamentary elections. The polls were won by an anti-Syrian alliance led by Saad al-Hariri, the son of slain former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri.
(Reuters/AP/AFP)
Hawi, a Christian, frequently spoke out against Syrian intelligence and interference in Lebanese affairs.
It was the second killing of an anti-Syrian figure in Beirut this month. Newspaper columnist Samir Kassir was killed on 2 June when a similar explosion destroyed his car.
Hawi's killing came two days after the end of Lebanon's parliamentary elections. The polls were won by an anti-Syrian alliance led by Saad al-Hariri, the son of slain former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri.
(Reuters/AP/AFP)