Funeral Held in Lebanon for Slain Anti-Syrian Journalist

Hundreds of mourners have gathered at the funeral of slain Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, amid calls for an international inquiry into his murder.

Mourners lined the streets of central Beirut Saturday, waving Lebanese flags and throwing rose petals on the coffin as the funeral procession passed from Martyr's Square to a nearby Greek Orthodox church.

Opposition groups blame Syrian intelligence agents for detonating a bomb under Mr. Kassir's car Thursday, in mainly Christian east Beirut. Damascus denies the accusation.

A prominent journalist, Mr. Kassir regularly wrote strong anti-Syrian columns.

His death comes as an international team investigates the February assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. His murder sparked massive protests and international pressure that forced Syria to withdraw its army from Lebanon after 29 years of political influence.

Some information for this report provided by AFP.