Dubai: Shortly after the latest political assassination in Beirut in which MP Jibran Tueni paid with his life, politicians in the Lebanese capital were divided on whom to blame.
Several politicians, including Druze leader Walid Junblatt, pointed the finger at Syria, which has denied any role and said the killing was timed as part of a smear campaign against it.
However, former premier and veteran Sunni politician Salim Al Hoss rebuffed such a conclusion, a sentiment echoed by Tueni's compatriots in parliament from Hezbollah bloc.
Junblatt told Gulf News the party that killed Tueni was responsible for the series of assassinations and attempted murders in the past few months, including the attempt to kill communication minister Marwan Hemadeh and the murder of former premier Rafik Hariri and journalist Samir Qaseer.
Evidence
"The same party murdered Tueni," he said.
He added: "Yes the assassinations will continue, but they can't kill the entire Lebanese people," he added.
Asked whether he himself might be targeted, Junblatt said "killing does not prevent but increases the people's will to continue to work for freedom and independence."
"We can't prejudge, and we shouldn't randomly accused others," former prime minister, Salim Al Hoss told Gulf News.
However, Hoss, who has being taking a softer stand towards Syria than Junblatt, criticised the "incompetence of security organisations in combating the series of assassinations."
Syria has condemned the attack.
"Syria denounces this crime that claimed the lives of Lebanese, irrespective of their political stances," Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhl Allah told LBC television.
The assassination came two days after an attempt to kill a member of the Hezbollah group, which has thrown its weight behind Syria in the predicament.
In an interview with Gulf News Hezbollah member Hassan Fadellah refused to accuse any party without evidence.
"The political environment is confused in Lebanon, and therefore, some are accusing others? but we want evidence."
Meanwhile, whoever is behind these attacks, is "seeking to destabilise Lebanon, and the assassination attempt (against a Hezbollah member) has Israeli fingerprints," he said.
