Thousands of Lebanese mourn anti-Syrian publisher

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Lebanese bid farewell on Wednesday to anti-Syrian publisher and lawmaker Gebran Tueni, turning his funeral into an outpouring of anger against Damascus, which they blame for his murder.

Tueni's assassination on Monday -- the third political murder since former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri was killed in February -- has caused serious political rifts in Lebanon, bringing the government to the verge of collapse.

In scenes reminiscent of the mass protests that swept Beirut after Hariri's murder and forced Damascus to end a 29-year military presence in Lebanon, the crowds denounced Syria and demanded its ally, President Emile Lahoud, step down.

"We want your head, Bashar," the crowds chanted in reference to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

"We are here to revolt against the oppression and barbarity that is taking away our best men," mourner Nabhan Abu Samra said.

Many thousands, most of them waving Lebanese flags, answered a call by anti-Syrian politicians for a large turnout at Tueni's funeral, carrying his flag-draped coffin on their shoulders through the streets of central Beirut to the Greek Orthodox church where a service will be held.

"All of Lebanon bids goodbye today to the martyr of free speech Gebran Tueni," said the frontpage headline of al-Mustaqbal newspaper, owned by the late Hariri.

The 48-year-old Tueni was among the most fiery critics of Damascus, publishing his biting editorials on the front-page of his an-Nahar newspaper, Lebanon's leading daily.

Many Lebanese politicians have blamed Syria for Tueni's murder, though Damascus has been quick to deny any involvement.

"Can no one say 'no' in this country without being killed?" asked Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who campaigned for Syria's withdrawal, in a call to LBC television on Tuesday night.