SHOTLIST

1. Wide of area were bomb blast happened

2. Mid of men looking at the remains of a car

3. Cordon next to remains of a vehicle

4. People inspecting damage

5. Dented parked cars along the road

6. Mangled vehicles

7. Pan of damage

8.Damaged building

9. People looking at damage

10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Elie Roukoz, Beirut Resident:

" As you see the whole buildings are damaged, we felt that the ground is shaking up and down."

11. Cars along street in Beirut

12. Various of man reading paper

13. Pan of papers on the news stand

14. Mid of front page reading (ENGLISH) " MP Antoine Ghamen assassinated"

15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Samer Mrad, Beirut Resident

" We want to see and to know the hands behind such acts and who has the interest. This is only affecting the poor and miserable people."

16. Lebanese security forces convoy along street

17. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon."

18. Cutaway

19. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The International Tribunal, which will try those cowardly criminal killers, will also try those who sabotage the presidential elections."

20. Various of locked up shops

STORYLINE

Lebanese leaders pledged on Thursday to press ahead with a divisive election for president, to be held in Parliament in coming days, despite the car bombing assassination of an anti-Syrian lawmaker.

Wednesday's bomb killed Antoine Ghanem, an anti-Syria lawmaker, and six others in a Christian neighbourhood of Beirut and threatened to derail efforts to bring the country's rival parties together to agree on a head of state ahead of time, before voting is set to begin next week.

Investigators were at the sight examining the remains of the blast.

At least 67 were wounded in the explosion, which severely damaged buildings and set cars ablaze during rush hour on a busy street in the Sin el-Fil neighbourhood.

Ghanem, 64, a member of the right-wing Christian Phalange party, had returned from refuge abroad only two days earlier. He was the eighth anti-Syria figure and fourth governing coalition lawmaker to be assassinated in less than three years.

On Thursday Lebanese newspapers were focused entirely on the assassination.

Samer Mrad a Beirut resident said he wants to know who is behind the attack.

" We want to see and to know that hands behind such acts and who has the interest. This is only affecting the poor and miserable people," he said.

Coalition members blamed Syria for the death, but Damascus denied involvement, as it has for the previous seven assassinations, including the 2005 bombing death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora asked the United Nations secretary-general in a letter to add the Ghanem assassination to an international probe into Hariri's slaying and other political crimes in Lebanon.

On Wednesday Hariri's son, who now heads the main anti-Syrian alliance in the Lebanese parliament, called the perpetrators of the attack "cowardly criminal killers".

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon," Saad Hariri said.

Many people fear the divisions over the presidency could lead to creation of two rival governments, a grim threat to repeat the last two years of Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war when army units loyal to competing administrations battled it out.

President Emile Lahoud, an ally of Syria, is due to step down from the presidency by November 23 and government supporters see the vote as the opportunity to put one of their own in the post.

But Hezbollah and its allies have vowed to block any candidate they do not approve and they can do so by boycotting the ballots, preventing the needed two-thirds quorum of 85 votes.

If no candidate is agreed on by the time Lahoud steps down, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and his cabinet would automatically take on executive powers.

If that happens, opposition supporters have said Lahoud might appoint a second government, a step many fear would break up the country.

Schools, universities and many businesses in Christian areas of Beirut, plus in the Mount Lebanon region north of the capital, closed on Thursday in a day of mourning and to observe a strike called by the Phalange Party.

A funeral was to be held Friday.

SHOTLIST

1. Tilt-up of rubble to people setting up security cordon

2. Pan from wreckage of one car to wreckage of another car

3. Soldiers shouting orders

4. Paramedic running to help, pan to vehicle being hosed

5. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon."

6. Cutaway

7. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The International Tribunal, which will try those cowardly criminal killers, will also try those who sabotage the presidential elections."

8. Wide view from above blast site

STORYLINE

A powerful bomb killed an anti-Syria lawmaker and six others in a Christian neighbourhood of Beirut on Wednesday, threatening to derail an effort by an already deeply divided parliament to elect Lebanon's next president in voting to begin next week.

Antoine Ghanem, a 64-year-old member of the Christian Phalange party who had returned from refuge abroad only two days earlier, was the eighth

anti-Syria figure and fourth lawmaker from the governing coalition to be assassinated in less than three years.

Coalition members blamed Syria, but Damascus denied involvement, as it has for the previous seven assassinations, including the 2005 bombing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a killing that ignited huge protests that forced Syria to withdraw its troops after a three-decade occupation.

Hariri's son, who now heads the main anti-Syrian alliance in the Lebanese parliament, called the perpetrators of Wednesday's attack "cowardly criminal killers".

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon," Saad Hariri said.

Many people fear the divisions over the presidency could lead to creation of two rival governments, a grim threat to repeat the last two years of

Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war when army units loyal to competing administrations battled it out.

President Emile Lahoud, an ally of Syria, is due to step down from the presidency by November 23 and government supporters see the vote as the opportunity to put one of their own in the post.

But Hezbollah and its allies have vowed to block any candidate they do not approve and they can do so by boycotting the ballots, preventing the needed two-thirds quorum of 85 votes.

If no candidate is agreed on by the time Lahoud steps down, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and his cabinet would automatically take on executive powers.

If that happens, opposition supporters have said Lahoud might appoint a second government, a step many fear would break up the country.

SHOTLIST

November 21, 2006

1. Tracking shot showing soldiers and crowd around Pierre Gemayel's car

2. Front shot of damaged car

3. Bullet holes in Gemayel's car window

4. Bullet holes in door on other side of car, zoom in to bloody interior of car

5. Soldiers making their way to scene

November 21, 2006

6. Wide of news conference room

7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): Fuad Saniora, Lebanese Prime Minister:

"To your lovely parents, to your wife and children, to all who love you and to all free men, I pledge to you that your blood will not go in vain."

8. Wide of conference ending

9. Cutaway close-up of Lebanese flag

10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): Emile Lahoud, Lebanese President:

"This speech was meant for the Lebanese, meant to congratulate them for independence day. But we were all Lebanese surprised by this criminal act that killed Pierre Gemayel at this time. Who ever committed this crime is following crimes that started with (the assassination of the) late Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and because of this, I tell you, that at this particular time we have to be united."

++Night Shots++

11. Crowd gathered outside hospital

12. Walid Jumblatt, a prominent Druse politician in the anti-Syrian coalition, making his way through the crowd

13. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Walid Jumblatt, Prominent Druse politician in the anti-Syrian coalition:

"We won't let them divide us in Lebanon and the international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for political assassinations in Lebanon will come soon.''

November 21, 2006

++Night Shots++

14. Wide exterior of St. Joseph's hospital

November 21, 2006

++Night Shots++

15. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Amin Gemayel, father of Pierre Gemayel and former Lebanese President:

"Today Pierre died as a martyr for his cause. All I ask from the people who loved Pierre is to protect the cause, Pierre killed for the cause of Lebanon, for the cause of freedom.''

16. Amin Gemayel being consoled by Walid Jumblatt

November 21, 2006

17. Wide of people gathered inside St. Jospeh's hospital

18. Man with poster of Pierre Gemayel, shouting

19. Men chanting

20. SOUNDBITE (English) Gemayel supporter, Vox Pop:

"We will not forget him after some months. We must work together in a very progressive way and in a peaceful way also."

November 21, 2006

++Night Shots++

21. Various of angry protesters gathering and scuffles with security personnel

22. Crowd of supporters chanting with raised fists

23. Tilt up of supporters demonstrating with poster of Pierre Gemayel

November 21, 2006

++Night Shots++

24. Fire burning on the street, with soldiers monitoring situation

25. Pan across protesters gathered near the fire

26. Crying women holding photographs of Pierre Gemayel

FILE - Recent

27. Pierre Gemayel arriving in car

28. Various of Pierre Gemayel with father Amin, a former president

FILE - 1982

29. Various of Bashir Gemayel (uncle of slain minister) in military uniform on left reviewing militia with his father (in suit), Pierre Gemayel (grandfather and namesake of slain minister)

30. Various of funeral of Bashir Gemayel

November 21, 2006

31. Pull out to wide of fires in street

STORYLINE

Pierre Gemayel, an anti-Syrian politician and scion of Lebanon's most prominent Christian family, was gunned down Tuesday in an assassination that heightened tensions amid a showdown between opponents and allies of Syria that threatens to topple the US-backed government.

Gemayel, the industry minister, was the fifth anti-Syrian figure to be killed in the past two years and the first member of the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora to be slain.

Saniora went on national television to call for unity and warned of "sedition" against Lebanon.

"I pledge to you that your blood will not go in vain," Saniora said, eulogising Gemayel.

Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud called for citizens to be united in this tragic time, a sentiment that was echoed by Walid Jumblatt, a prominent Druse politician in the anti-Syrian coalition.

"We won't let them divide us in Lebanon and the international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for political assassinations in Lebanon will come soon," Jumblatt said as he offered condolences to Amin Gemayel, father of the slain minister.

Amin Gemayel, a former Lebanese president, told reporters that his son had "died as a martyr".

"All I ask from the people who loved Pierre is to protect the cause, Pierre killed for the cause of Lebanon, for the cause of freedom,'' he told reporters.

The killing has sparked condemnation across the world and from crowds of supporters in Beirut.

Emotional crowds gathered in the streets, with some angry protesters scuffling with security personnel.

There were fires in the streets as many supporters pledged to keep Gemayel's memory alive.

"We will not forget him after some months. We must work together in a very progressive way and in a peaceful way also," said one supporter.

Gemayel's fatal shooting will certainly heighten the political tension in Lebanon, where the leading Muslim Shiite party Hezbollah has threatened to topple the government if it does not get a bigger say in Cabinet decision making.

Witnesses said Gemayel was shot in his car in Jdeideh, a Christian neighbourhood, his constituency on the northern edge of Beirut.

They said a car rammed Gemayel's car from behind and then an assailant stepped out and shot him at point blank range.

Gemayel was rushed to a nearby hospital seriously wounded, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC) and Voice of Lebanon, the Phalange Party's radio station, reported.

The party radio later said he was dead, as did the National News Agency.

Gemayel was a member of the Phalange party and supporter of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, which is locked in a power struggle with pro-Syrian factions led by Hezbollah.

He was first elected to parliament in 2005 and was believed to be the youngest legislator in the legislature, where anti-Syrian groups dominate.

The Gemayels have been a political dynasty in Lebanon. The name is famous, and also infamous in some quarters for being a driving force behind the right wing Phalange Party - that fielded the largest Christian militia during the 1975-90 civil war between Christians and Muslims.

The slain minister of industry was the son of former President Amin Gemayel and nephew of Bashir Gemayel, a former president assassinated after the Israeli invasion in 1982 for his tacit collaboration with the Jewish state.

That assassination led to the Christian militia massacre of Palestinians in Sabra and Chatila in September 1982.

Pierre Gemayel's grandfather and namesake founded the Phalange Party in 1936 after a visit to Nazi Germany.

Gemayel is the fifth anti-Syrian figure to be assassinated in the past two years in Lebanon.

Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive car bombing in February 2005.

The journalist and activist Samir Kassir and former Communist Party leader George Hawi were killed in separate car bombings in June last year.

And lawmaker and newspaper manager Gibran Tueni was killed in a car bombing in December.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide of police checkpoint outside Roumyeh prison

2. Mid of policemen

3. Zoom into car carrying the released suspects leaving prison grounds

4. Close of released suspect inside the car

5. Cars leaving

6. Tilt up of fireworks

7. People cheering, pan to man firing AK-47 in celebration

8. Women trilling

9. Men dancing

10. Man beating drum

11. Man distributing sweets

12. Exterior of AlMashari Islamic charity association

13. SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Sheikh Abdulkader al-Fakahani, al-Ahbash spokesman:

"We have known from the first moment that they were innocent and their arrest was not legal. The Lebanese justice released them today and that's what we were after."

14. Men cheering

STORYLINE

Three men jailed for more than three years in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri were set free on bail on Wednesday, days before an international tribunal was to begin trying the case.

The judge did not explain his decision to release two Lebanese brothers on a bail of 500,000 Lebanese pounds (330 US dollars) each and a Syrian man on a bail of just 100,000 Lebanese pounds (67 US dollars).

The three could still be prosecuted in the case, although no one has been charged in the suicide bombing that killed Hariri and 22 others on a seaside street in Beirut on February 14, 2005.

Investigating judge Saqr Saqr's decision, carried by the official news agency, said four other suspects in the bombing - all pro-Syrian Lebanese generals - would remain jailed, which could allow them to be turned over to the international court.

As the news of the release of the Abdel-Al brothers filtered down, several hundred supporters gathered outside offices of Ahmed's faction in a Muslim neighbourhood of Beirut to await their arrival.

Some beat drums, others handed out candy, set off firecrackers or fired off pistols into the air in celebration.

A spokesman for the pro-Syrian Islamic group, known as al-Ahbash, welcomed the release of the brothers, saying it knew they were innocent from the start.

At the time of the assassination, the generals headed the police, military intelligence, a General Security agency, and the Presidential Guard Brigade.

The late Hariri had close ties with Western leaders and was credited with helping rebuild Beirut after the 1975-1990 civil war and trying to limit

neighbouring Syria's influence over Lebanon.

Following his assassination, Syria's army withdrew after mass protests, which also sparked political upheaval and violence.

The UN Security Council ordered an independent investigation into the assassination after its fact-finding mission found that the Lebanese

investigation was flawed.

The Security Council set up the mixed Lebanese-international tribunal in the Netherlands at the Lebanese government's request after parliament split between the majority and the opposition and failed to ratify an agreement with the UN.

The case has been handed over to the tribunal.

The first UN investigator, German Detlev Mehlis, said the plot's complexity suggested Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services played a role.

Hariri's supporters accuse Damascus of the bombing, but Syria denies involvement.

Two of the men freed on Wednesday - brothers Mahmoud and Ahmed Abdel-Al, a member of a pro-Syrian Sunni Muslim fundamentalist group - were detained in 2005.

A UN probe into the slaying said Mahmoud made "interesting" phone calls February 14, including one to former President Emile Lahoud, just before a truck bomb killed Hariri, raising questions about the president.

But the office of Lahoud, a Hariri rival and Syria's staunchest ally, denied the president received the call.

Lahoud's extension of his term in September 2004 for three more years, under pressure from Syria, triggered a sharp disagreement between Damascus, then a dominant power in Lebanon, and Hariri, who opposed the measure then relented before resigning two months later.

Ahmed Abdel-Al was named by the U.N. probe in 2005 as a "key figure" who had extensive contacts with top Lebanese security officials before and after the blast, and tried to hide information from investigators.

The third man freed, Syrian Ibrahim Jarjoura, was arrested in 2006 on suspicion he gave false evidence and misled the investigation.

SHOTLIST

++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

1. Exterior of Baabda Palace

2. Wide of meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Lebanese President Emile Lahoud

3. Close-up of Lavrov, pull out to wide

4. Close-up of Lahoud

5. Exterior of Grand Serail

6. Various of meeting between Lavrov and Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora

7. Saniora speaking

8. Various of Lavrov listening

9. Wide of news conference

10. Cutaway of reporters

11. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister:

"All of UN resolution 1701 should be implemented. The sea and air blockade should be lifted over Lebanon and the Lebanese army should be deployed in the south along with the UNIFIL troops and of course the two Israeli detainees should be freed."

12. Cutaway of cameras

13. Lavrov leaving news conference

14. Exterior shot with arrival of United Nations (UN) Undersecretary General for Legal Affairs Nicholas Michel

15. Various of meeting between Michel and Lebanese Justice Minister Charles Rizk

STORYLINE:

As part of the continuing diplomatic efforts to consolidate the ceasefire between Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas and Israeli forces, the Russian Foreign Minister arrived in Beirut on Thursday to meet Lebanese officials.

Sergey Lavrov said after talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora that each part of UN resolution 1701 must be implemented, referring to the resolution that ended 34 days of fighting between the two sides on August 14 (2006).

"The sea and air blockade should be lifted over Lebanon and the Lebanese army should be deployed in the south along with the UNIFIL troops and of course the two Israeli detainees should be freed," he said.

Lavrov also held talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.

Afterwards he said there must a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East and an international conference would help achieve this.

Lavrov's visit comes after Israel announced that it would lift an air and sea blockade on the country by Thursday evening.

Israel had come under international pressure to lift its embargo, which had threatened to derail efforts to implement the UN resolution.

The embargo, which business leaders have said cost the country about 50 (m) million US dollars per day, was also hampering massive rebuilding efforts.

The lifting of the embargo marked a major victory for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and it showed that with UN mediation, some of the outstanding disagreements might be resolved.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Undersecretary General for Legal Affairs also arrived in the country late on Wednesday to advance efforts to formulate an international tribunal to investigate the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Nicolas Michel said he was in Lebanon to meet top Lebanese judicial and political officials at the request of Annan.

He said he hoped to be able to make progress in agreeing a legal basis for the establishment of a tribunal.

On Thursday he presented a final UN draft on the tribunal to Lebanese Justice Minister Charles Rizk.

SHOTLIST

1. Exterior of Ein El-Tineh Palace

2. Wide of meeting between Nabih Berri, Lebanese Parliament Speaker; David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs; and U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman

3. Mid of Berri

4. Mid of Welch

5. Wide of meeting

6. Exterior of Lebanese prime minister's office

7. Wide of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora meeting Welch and Feltman

8. Mid of meeting with Saniora

9. Mid of Welch

10. Mid of Saniora

11. Wide of meeting

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs:

"The future of Lebanon is not something that is negotiable against other interests the U.S. may have in in the area, this won't happen."

13. Cutaway to close up of hands

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs:

"Perhaps some outside of Lebanon are concerned about the tribunal because they may be worried that one day they may be held accountable and responsible. Of course, that is normal in any process of justice."

15. Cutaway flag

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs:

"We do not understand what is the purpose of the Hezbollah party having weapons. Precisely what is it they intend to use these weapons for? A conclusion that many have is that they want to be able to intimidate their way into politics. That is the wrong basis for political dialogue and result."

17. U.S. seal on wall

18. Welch heading to meet General Michele Aoun

19. Welch shaking hands with Aoun

20. Various of meeting with Aoun

STORYLINE:

A senior U.S. official pledged on Wednesday that the United States will not use Lebanon as a bargaining tool - an attempt to allay fears that Washington's recent talks with Syria and Iran could weaken American resolve here.

David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, also said he expects the U.N. Security Council will establish an international tribunal in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He dismissed fears that creating the court, which is at the core of the political crisis here, without Lebanon's parliamentary approval could lead to violence despite Hezbollah's rejection of such a course.

Welch stressed that the U.S. will not abandon Lebanon.

Welch met on Wednesday with senior Lebanese figures, including the parliament speaker Nabih Berri, and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

There have been concerns that recent American contacts with Syria and Iran over Iraq could result in a softening of U.S. support for the Lebanese government, which is facing an incessant campaign by the opposition led by Hezbollah, a Syria and Iran ally, to topple it.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Welch said the United States would not bargain over Lebanon.

"The future of Lebanon is not something that is negotiable against other interests the U.S. may have in the area, this won't happen," said Welsh, in an interview at the heavily fortified U.S.

Embassy compound in Beirut.

Welch's two-day visit to Lebanon comes amid a political impasse over the Hariri tribunal.

Commenting on the tribunal, Welch said: "Perhaps some outside of Lebanon are concerned about the tribunal because they may be worried that one day they may be held accountable and responsible. Of course, that is normal in any process of justice."

In addition to meeting the prime minister, Welch met with others including some opposition leaders - except Hezbollah.

He did not meet with President Emile Lahoud, a staunch Syria ally.

Welch did meet General Michele Aoun, a Christian leader and the main ally for Hezbollah, and the two discussed presidential elections and the political situation in Lebanon.

Hezbollah's 11 lawmakers slammed the visit, accusing Welch of "flagrant interference ... and provocative, subversive positions" that would complicate the crisis.

Speaking to AP Television, Welch questioned why Hezbollah wanted to possess weapons.

"Precisely what is it they intend to use these weapons for? A conclusion that many have is that they want to be able to intimidate their way into politics. That is the wrong basis for political dialogue and result," he said.

Hezbollah has said the real goal of American policy in Lebanon is to disarm the Shiite Muslim militant group, whose guerrillas fought Israeli forces in last year's summer war and lobbed thousands of rockets into northern Israel.

A U.N. resolution also calls for disarming militias, and Welch said disarming Hezbollah was a matter for the Lebanese to solve.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide top shot of thousands of protesters at the site where Pierre Gemayel was assassinated

2. Mid of protestors carrying flags

3. Mid of poster showing photo of Pierre Gemayel

4. Pan from right to left down street showing thousands of protestors

5. Various of wife and mother of Pierre Gemayel

6. Various of protestors

7. Mid of armed solider standing near site of protest

8. Various of Lebanese army on foot and in armoured vehicles taking up positions around the Prime ministers office in Beirut

9. Wide exterior of the office of Fuad Saniora, Lebanese Prime Minister, in Beirut

10. Wide interior pan of Saniora, Henrietta Fore, US Department of State Under Secretary, and delegation sitting for photo op

11. Mid of Henrietta Fore seated on couch

12. Mid of Saniora sitting for photo op

13. Wide of delegates

14. Mid of Saniora and Fore

15. Mid of Fore approaching microphone to speak

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) Henrietta Fore, US Department of State Undersecretary for Management:

"(we) affirmed our long and sustained commitment to Lebanon."

17. Various of newspaper stand in Beirut showing pictures of Pierre Gemayel, and tanks in streets

18. Various of newspaper headline reads: (Arabic) "No new initiative or meeting and all factions in confrontation.''

19. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Vox Pop:

"We hope for Arab countries and the Arab League to intervene try to get people together in order to avoid civil war like the one we had.''

20. Wide of protestors

21. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Vox Pop:

"We are here to show support and loyalty and to tell the world that we Lebanese Christians will stay and not leave Lebanon no matter what happen."

22. Wide of Beirut city

STORYLINE

Thousands of protestors took to the streets of Beirut on Tuesday, demanding the truth over the assassination of the Maronite Christian Industry minister, Pierre Gemayel.

The gathering, held at the site where Gemayel was killed, marked a week long period since the minister's death.

Gemayel's wife and mother joined the protestors.

Gemayel's assassination has inflamed an already volatile situation in Lebanon- one clearly visible in Beirut on Tuesday as troops moved to secure posts around Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's office as he met with a senior US official from Washington.

Henrietta Fore, US Department of State Undersecretary for Management, told news reporters after the meeting, that Washington had "affirmed" its "long and sustained commitment to Lebanon," in the face of Hezbollah-led opposition moves to topple it.

The meeting between US and Lebanon comes a day after Saniora's cabinet sent a draft accord to Lebanon's President, Emile Lahoud, seeking to create a tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri - a move seen to further enhance the power struggle between the pro- and anti-Syrian forces.

The pro-Syrian Lahoud, who considers the Cabinet "unconstitutional" after the resignation of six ministers, is expected to decline to endorse the agreement.

The accord would set up the UN backed court in a location outside Lebanon.

For opponents of Syria, the court is a major priority, one they hope will uncover the truth behind the February 2005 assassination of Hariri which they accuse Damascus of orchestrating.

Syria denies the claim.

The tribunal has also become the latest weapon in the battle between the Hezbollah-aligned factions and the anti-Syrian parties over the demand by Hezbollah for a third of the Cabinet's seats, which would give Hezbollah and its supporters veto power over key decisions, including the UN document setting up the tribunal.

Hezbollah is threatening to call mass demonstrations unless it and its allies obtain a veto-wielding share of the Cabinet -a demand that Saniora and the anti-Syrian parties have rejected.

Gemayel's death heightened fears the country may return to the sectarian violence of the 1975-90 civil war.