Lebanon’s army urged feuding politicians to set aside their differences and strengthen foundation of the nation on Friday, at the funeral of an assassinated general. Brigadier General Francois al-Hajj was killed in a car bomb on Wednesday. He was the ninth figure to be assassinated in Lebanon in less than three years. He was the first military officer to be killed. The other attacks targeted anti-Syrian figures.

Hajj, who had good ties with Syria’s allies in Lebanon had been tipped to take over as army chief from General Michel Suleiman, who could be elected president by parliament as early as next week.

Schools, banks and public offices across the country were closed for a day for mourning. After weeks of wrangling, pro- and anti-Syrian camps have agreed to nominate Suleiman for the presidency.

Rival leaders rubbed shoulders at the church in Harisa where the funeral service took place. Hundreds of mourners packed the church, led by the wife and three children of the slain officer. Suleiman and his generals received condolences after the service.

Hajj’s coffin, draped in a Lebanese flag, began a two-hour drive to his southern hometown of Rmeish for burial. President George W Bush, while not openly accusing Syria of the killing, warned Damascus on Thursday against meddling in Lebanon. Lebanon asked the United Nations to help it investigate Hajj’s killing. A UN commission is already investigating the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri and other political attacks.
Lebanon asked the UN to help it investigate Hajj's killing. A UN commission is already investigating the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri and other political attacks. It is due to hand over its findings to a special tribunal being established in the Netherlands.