As Hizbullah mourns official, March 14 bloc observes anniversary of Hariri murderBEIRUT — In a speech to supporters mourning the death of a senior commander, the secretary-general of Hizbullah has said that his movement is ready for open warfare with Israel, accusing Israel of killing Imad Moghniyeh in a car bomb blast in the Syrian capital Damascus late on Tuesday, Hassan Nasrallah said on Thursday that it had “crossed the borders.” “With this murder, its timing, location and method — Zionists [Israel] if you want this kind of open war, let the whole world listen: Let this war be open,” he said. Speaking in a videotaped message to supporters at the funeral service for Moghniyeh in southern Beirut, Nasrallah said: “Like all human beings we have a sacred right to defend ourselves. “We will do all that it takes to defend our country and people.” The speech by Nasrallah, who has been in hiding since the July 2006 war between Israel and Hizbullah, came shortly after an event in the Lebanese capital to mark the third anniversary of the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, a former prime minister.

Hizbullah’s chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah speaks through Al Manar television during Moughniyah funeral

Security was tight in Beirut as thousands of people gathered for the two separate rallies, which highlighted the deep divisions in the country. Leaders in the pro-government March 14 bloc had supporters in the al-Hariri commemoration show their rejection of alleged Syrian efforts to regain influence in Lebanon. Hizbullah, which is supported by Syria and Iran, has led an opposition political bloc against March 14 for the past three years. Rula Amin, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Beirut, said the rallies in Beirut advanced different visions for Lebanon. “In the al-Hariri rally the speakers there were taking pride that it was the United States, the E.U. and the West that was backing them and empowering their constituency,” she said. “In the southern suburbs at the funeral for Moghniyeh, there was defiance of Israel, the United States and the West in general — who consider Mogniyeh a terrorist. “This [funeral gathering] was a strong message from Hizbullah — they wanted to show not just Israel but the March 14 leaders that they also command support on the streets.” Nasrallah said that the July 2006 war with Israel was continuing, although not on a military level. “The July war is still continuing — until now, no ceasefire has been proclaimed. This war is continuing at the political level, at the media level, at the financial and material level, at the security level,” he said. “It is supported by the same countries that supported Israel in the July war. This is why [Moghniyeh] was assassinated.” Nasrallah said that the death of Moghniyeh would only strengthen the resistance against Israel. “Moghniyeh’s blood will lead to the elimination of Israel. These words are not an emotional reaction,” he said. Amin said Nasrallah’s words were “very clear” and that Lebanese people were wondering what Hizbullah would do next. “For many Lebanese they are wondering: is this going to mean another war with Israel? Will it mean more bombings? Will they have to flee their homes again?” she said. Israel has ordered its military, embassies and Jewish institutions around the world to increase security measures in case of revenge attacks, Israeli officials said on Thursday, on condition of anonymity. Earlier on Thursday, thousands of people attended a rally to mark the third anniversary of al-Hariri’s death. They carried Lebanese flags and photographs of al-Hariri and other politicians and political figures killed in attacks blamed on Syria.

Nasrallah declares open war on Israel

Al-Hariri was killed in a car bombing on Beirut’s seafront in 2005, sparking mass protests and the withdrawal of Syrian troops after 29 years. Syria denies any links to a series of killings across Lebanon in the past three years. “In 2005 you took to the streets to force them out. In 2008 you must do the same so that they don’t come back,” read messages on billboards around Beirut. In a speech to the rally, Saad al-Hariri, the former prime minister’s son and the parliamentary leader of the ruling bloc, said that three years ago forces tried to “assassinate Lebanon.” “Here you are today, gathering once again, responding to the call of freedom, sovereignty and independence,” he told the crowd. Schools and universities were ordered to shut on Thursday, while most businesses were set to close as the government declared a holiday. Concerns that the two events could spark unrest between opposing political supporters prompted foreign embassies to urge their citizens to observe extreme caution and avoid travel in Beirut. The day of mourning for both the March 14 ruling bloc and its opponent Hizbullah comes amid continuing differences in Lebanese politics. There has been a power vacuum in Lebanon since November, with opposing political factions failing to agree on a new president and the distribution of key cabinet portfolios. Al-Hariri called for the parliamentary vote to confirm General Michel Suleiman as president, which has been postponed 14 times, to go ahead. “We want a president for the republic,” he told the rally.

Thousands of supporters gather during 3rd anniversary of Hariri funeral

The Israeli prime minister’s office denied allegations that it had played any role in Moghniyeh’s killing. “Israel rejects the attempts of terror elements to attribute to Israel any involvement in this incident,” Ehud Olmert’s office said in a statement on Wednesday. Iran also accused Israel of carrying out the attack. However, the U.S. welcomed Moghniyeh’s killing, saying that he had been responsible for many deaths. “The world is a better place without this man in it. He was a cold-blooded killer, a mass murderer and a terrorist responsible for countless innocent lives lost,” Sean McCormack, the U.S. state department spokesman, said on Wednesday. Also known as Hajj Radhwan, Moghniyeh was widely suspected of being behind a wave of Western hostage-taking in Lebanon in the 1980s, claims denied by Hizbullah. According to the U.S. and the West, he was a “top terrorist” and was involved in the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut in April 1983. The U.S. also claims he was involved in the killing of hundreds of U.S. Marines and French paratroopers in simultaneous truck bomb attacks in October 1983.Source: Al Jazeera