Thousands of mourners gathered on Thursday in the centre of Beirut for the funeral of the assassinated industry minister, Pierre Gemayel as the occasion turned into a mass demonstration in support of Lebanon’s anti-Syrian movement.

In scenes reminiscent of the aftermath of the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, former prime minister, the demonstrators gathered in Martyr Square. This was the site of a mass demonstration on March 14 last year in which organisers said about one million people took part, demanding the withdrawal of Syrian forces from their country.