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Beirut: Tens of thousands of people from rival factions have turned out in Beirut to mark the third anniversary former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s killing and for the funeral of Hezbollah leader Emad Mughnieh.
The fear of violence has led to major roads being blocked and as many as 8,000 troops being deployed on the streets of the Lebanese capital.
Hezbollah has called for people to march behind the coffin of Mughnieh, the group's former security chief as it makes its way through the south of the city.
Just a few miles away in Martyr’s Square, supporters of Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a car bomb in Beirut on February 14, 2005 are marking the anniversary of his assassination.
The rally in downtown Beirut is expected to be finishing just as the funeral procession gets under way.
A statement aired on Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV said "Let us make our voice heard by all the enemies and murderers that we will be victorious, no matter the sacrifices.”
Mughnieh was assassinated in a car bomb in Damascus on Wednesday and emotions will be running high.
Tensions have been rising in Lebanon, with factions from both sides ramping up the political rhetoric in recent weeks.
There have also been street protests and violence in the capital.
Lebanon has had no President since November, with the vote on a replacement for Emile Lahoud having been postponed 14 times due to disagreements from political factions in the country.
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