Lebanon engulfed in fear and gloom

With Independence Day celebrations cancelled, Lebanon was engulfed in fear and gloom today as it prepared to bury Christian leader and Cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel, whose assassination threatened to push a country in political crisis over the brink.

Schools and shops were closed and traffic was light as Gemayel’s coffin, draped in the flag of his Phalange Party, was driven to the family’s home in Bikfaya for mourning ceremonies before the funeral scheduled for tomorrow.