…in more ways than one.

The assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel was "an operation trying to kill the hope of the people," said Father Joseph Abu Ghazale, parish priest at the Maronite Catholic Church of St Anthony’s, about 50 yards from where Gemayel was gunned down.

"Pierre was here in this church six months ago, and he heard me talk about martyrs and how they live on after death. He believed and was ready to sacrifice himself," said the priest. "He represented the ambitions of all the young people in Lebanon, and that enthusiasm will only increase now."