Beirut, Lebanon - The assassination today of Lebanon's industry minister, Pierre Gemayel, must be understood in the context of the ongoing effort by Syria to undermine the mixed Lebanese-international tribunal currently being set up to try suspects in the assassination of the late prime minister, Rafiq Hariri. The Syrians are the most likely culprits in that crime, and if the tribunal is set up, the regime of President Bashar Assad may have very few means to prevent its own demise, or, at best, international pariah status.

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