Hariri Assassination Commemorated
Lebanon is commemorating today the 1st anniversary of P.M. Rafic Hariri, targeted and killed with 22 others in a massive explosion in Beirut on Valentine’s Day of 2005. Lebanon’s political situation has lived several changes ever since.
One year later, half a million people – according to security forces – commemorate the assassination of the Lebanese self-made billionaire. Crowds from all over the country gathered on the Freedom Square in downtown Beirut, near the mosque where he was buried. Several political groups took part in the manifestation, what is known as the coalition of March 14th, an alliance regrouping the Future Movement (headed by Hariri’s son, Saad Hariri), the Social Party (headed by Walid Jumblat), the Lebanese Forces (headed by Samir Geagea)…
A major political faction missing was the Free Patriotic Movement (headed by Michel Aoun), who refused to participate, describing the commemoration as being “politicized”. Note that the FPM had participated in the March 14th 2005 Cedar Revolution.
Protesters demanded the demission of Lebanese President, Emile Lahoud, whose public appearances has particularly decreased in the last year. One of the posters stated in reference to President Lahoud and the four former Lebanese officials, accused to be involved in the assassination and currently imprisoned: “Four Down, One to Go”.
U.S. secretary general, Condoleezza Rice, stated earlier today that the United States stands united with the Lebanese people in finding the responsible of Hariri’s murder and bringing them to justice.
Photos (by AFP):
