Fisk on the latest assassination in Beirut

"An anti-Syrian politician in Lebanon has been assassinated overnight. Pierre Gemayel was shot dead near Beirut.

In the fractured politics of Lebanon, his murder has created yet more emotional turmoil in Beirut. The assassination has sparked condemnation from the international community.

Suspicion has immediately focused on Syria, which is also accused of being behind the assassination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri last year.

But Syria rejects the blame. It has condemned the assassination as a 'crime aimed at destabilising' its neighbour.

This latest assassination, the fifth in the last 20 months, has intensified an already volatile situation and is pushing the country's government a step closer to collapse."

Robert Fisk is a Middle East correspondent for The Independent newspaper and he joins ABC Radio National's Breakfast from Beirut............Listen to this up to date assessment of the situation from an expert.

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