Syria Strikes Again

The UN's second report on Syria's involvement in Rafik Hariri's assassination is completed and points a finger at Damascus. Now, on the eve of the report's publication, Syria is apparently at it again, as a car bomb snuffed out the life of Gibran Tueni.

Tuenis is a journalist and legislator and a staunch anti-Syrian. He was behind the massive street demonstrations earlier this year that helped drive Syria out of Lebanon.

The Lebanon Daily Star reports:

Tueni's uncle, Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamade, and the leading Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt blamed Syria for the bombing _ a charge that Syria promptly denied.

Police said Tueni was one of three people killed when a car bomb exploded as his motorcade drove through the industrial suburb of Mkalles. Another 30 people were wounded in the bombing, which started a large fire.

Tuenis had just returned to Lebanon from France, where he had been staying because he feared Syria was out to assassinate him.

Watch for new demonstrations, and watch for a continuing UN investigation. Also, watch for Syrian despot Bashar Al-Assad to dig in, deny and continue showcasing to the world why democracy must come to the Middle East.