Beirut: Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Beirut for the funeral of murdered politician Pierre Gemayel.
The city centre was packed with flag waving mourners as the coffin of the industry minister was carried to the service at the St George Catherdral.
Many of them brandished anti-Syrian posters aimed at president Bashar Al Assad, saying "Shove your civil war".
A message read the funeral from Pope Benedict XVI condemned the "unspeakable" assassination.
"We are all very moved by this unspeakable act," he said in the message read by a priest. "I hope that all Lebanese remain united in these circumstances and that they renew their determination to rebuild an autonomous Lebanon... where all communities are ensured active participation," he said.
The anti-Syrian Maronite Christian politician was shot in his car in a Christian area of Beirut on Tuesday night.
The funeral of Gemayel's bodguard, who was also killed in the assassination, is being held at the same time.
