SHOTLIST:

1. Wide of French Foreign Minister, Philippe Douste-Blazy's aeroplane after landing at Beirut airport

2. Philippe Douste-Blazy walking away from aeroplane towards VIP lounge at Beirut airport

3. SOUNDBITE: (French) Philippe Douste-Blazy, French Foreign Minister:

"I am representing France for the funeral of the assassinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, the son of the great Gemayel family that struggled for the independence of Lebanon, and we offer our sympathy to the Lebanese people for this brutal murder.''

4. Douste-Blazy walking away

STORYLINE:

France's Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy arrived in Beirut on Thursday to attend the funeral of the Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, who was murdered on Tuesday.

"I represent France for the funeral of the assassinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, the son of the great Gemayel family that struggled for the independence of Lebanon." Douste-Blazy told reporters in the Lebanese capital.

"We offer our sympathy to the Lebanese people for this brutal murder.'' he added.

In Paris on Wednesday, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin further stressed France's stance saying that the international tribunal created to prosecute the suspected killers of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 14 others should be enabled to judge those behind Gemayel's murder as well.

The United Nations Security Council approved the tribunal to prosecute the killers of Hariri, who died in a February 2005 bomb attack.