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GV Unknown warrior's tomb with guards lined up (2 shots)
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SV President walks past armed guard of honour (2 shots)
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SV Military lined up
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SV President lays wreath on unknown warrior's tomb
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SV Bachars Al-Khuri's statue
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SV President lays wreath on statue
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SV President at attention
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GV Riad Solh statue
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SV President lays wreath on statue
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CU President at attention
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Initials BB/0043 TA/MR/BB/0138



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Lebanon celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Independence on Thursday (November 22), but there was no military parade this year because of the Middle East situation.

In Beirut, the capital, President Sulaiman Franjiya laid wreaths at the unknown warrior's tomb, the statues of the Republic's first President, Bechara Al-Khuri, and ex-Premier Riad Al Solh.

The Lebanese armed forces have not been involved in this October's Middle East war, but there has been heavy fighting for Mount Hermon on the Lebanese Syrian border between Syrian and Palestinian Liberation troops on one side and Israel on the other.

SYNOPSIS: The tomb of the unknown warrior in Beirut -- the Lebanese capital -- where celebrations took place on Thursday to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the country's independence. The military parade which is usually a part of the celebrations was abandoned this year because of the Middle East situation.

Lebanon's President Sulaiman Franjiya laid three wreaths during the day.

In November of nineteen forty-three President Bechara Al-Khuri's government made Lebanon independent of French rule. President Franjiya laid a wreath before Al-Khuri's statue in tribute to his contribution to the country's history.

President Franjiya also went to ex-Premier Riad Al Solh's statue....It has been a tense year for Lebanon. Their armed forces were not involved in October's Middle East war, but there was fighting along Lebanon's frontiers.