The killing of Pascal Sleiman, a Christian politician, by a Syrian gang has led to fears of conflict.
Government and religious officials have rushed to quell tensions after the killing of Pascal Sleiman prompted fears of renewed street brawls between rival parties and triggered beatings of Syrians. Sleiman headed the anti-Hezbollah Lebanese Forces Party in a predominantly Christian coastal area.
Lebanon's army said on Monday a group of Syrians tried to steal Sleiman's car the previous evening but ultimately killed him and took his body to neighbouring Syria. It said security forces had arrested most of those responsible.
But in a written statement to Reuters on Tuesday, the Lebanese Forces rejected the account, saying Sleiman was attacked because of the party's political views.
"The official narrative that this was a car-jacking remains incoherent, and we consider Pascal Suleiman's killing to be a political assassination because of his political role. Unless proven otherwise, we tend to consider this to be a direct assault against the LF," the party said.
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/killing-party-official-fuels-sectarian-political-tensions-lebanon-2024-04-09/
