Beirut boosts security ahead of general’s funeral

(AP) — Lebanese security forces are setting up road blocks and cordoning off Beirut's central Martyrs' Square ahead of a public funeral for a top intelligence official who was assassinated in a massive car bombing.

Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan was killed along with seven others Friday in an attack that many blame on Syria. He was in charge of an investigation over the summer that led to the arrest of a Syrian-allied Lebanese politician over what authorities called a plot by Damascus to provoke chaos with bombings and assassinations.

The probe was an embarrassing blow to Syria, which has long acted with impunity in Lebanon.

Giant posters of al-Hassan were set up around Beirut ahead of Sunday's funeral calling him a "martyr of sovereignty and independence."