Brigadere General Francois Hajj was likely to replace Michel Suleiman. Hajj is a 'pro-Syrian', and was in charge of the assault on the Nahr Al Bared refugee camp during the summer. He made enemies when he led the battles with the Hariri-funded anti-Syrian group Fateh Al Islam.

The pro/anti divide may be petty and false, but it is interesting how none of the agencies have referred to Hajj as pro-Syrian. In the reporting of any other killing, the victim is always referred to as anti-Syrian.

Hariri funded Fateh Al Islam as a Sunni/anti-Syrian counterweight to the Shia Hizbollah. But then Fateh Al Islam went out of control, and the army was sent in to put an end to their violence.

This is the first attack on the army in the recent spate of killings, which has generally been seen as apolitical.