BEIRUT, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Seniora chaired here on Wednesday a meeting of the Lebanese Central Security Council to discuss developments regarding the assassination of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.

    Following the meeting, Lebanon's acting Interior Minister Ahmad Fatfat told reporters that general attorney and heads of security bodies briefed Seniora with the latest developments on the Gemayel case.

    "Security authorities had been questioning a substantial number of eyewitnesses," Fatfat said.

    The minister denied any insufficiency in the work of the security authorities, noting Gemayel had been warned before the attack by his bodyguards of possible dangers and told to leave the convoy.

    Fatfat also said that the Lebanese army and the security forces would jointly safeguard the public funeral of Gemayel in central Beirut on Thursday, adding that the Lebanese Army would be in command.

    The 34-year-old Gemayel was shot dead late Tuesday by a gunshot on his head when his convoy was attacked in Jedeide, about 15 km northeast from Beirut.

    The decease of Gemayel complicated the already spiny political crisis in Lebanon following the resignation of six pro-Syrian ministers earlier this month.

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    Lebanese minister shot dead in Beirut

A Lebanese woman carries a picture of assassinated Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel in Bekfaya, northeast of Beirut, November 21, 2006.  (AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

     BEIRUT, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Industry Minister and Christian leader Pierre Gemayel was shot dead on a street in the suburb of Beirut on Tuesday, al-Jazeera TV channel quoted the Lebanese Interior Ministry as saying.

    Saad Hariri, parliament's majority leader and son of the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, broke off his televised press conference and confirmed the news, al-Jazeera said.

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