Christian politician assassinated.

Beirut -- The violence of the Lebanese summer never really went away--it just went underground. On November 21, it erupted again in an episode where history repeated itself.

Pierre Gemayel, a cabinet member in the pro-Western government of Fouad Siniora, was shot and killed by three gunmen who rammed his car in a Christian neighbourhood of Beirut.

Gemayel, 34, was a member of one of Lebanon's most prominent Christian Maronite families and the nephew of politician Bashi Gemayel, who was killed by a truck bomb in 1982. His grandfather was the founder of the Christian Phalange Party, of which his father Amir was formerly president. Noting the mobs of angry protesters who took to the streets following his son's murder, Amir Gemayel, after asking for prayers, stated, "We don't want reactions and revenge."

Pierre Gemayel, like former prime minister Rafik Hariri (a Muslim who was assassinated in February 2005), had opposed Syrian influence in Lebanon. The pro-Syrian militia, Hezbollah, is suspected of involvement in it (despite its categorization of the killing as a "low criminal act"). Rival Christian general Michel Aoun, who supports Hezbollah, is also having to ward off accusations.

The killing, which many fear may spark a renewed civil war, followed a political crisis in which six Shiite members of Siniora's cabinet resigned (Nat. Post, Nov. 22, 2006). Pope Benedict XVI on November 22 condemned the killing and warned of "dark forces" that are seeking to destroy Lebanon.