Hariri remembered

BEIRUT – Tens of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese gathered in central Beirut yesterday to remember Rafik al-Hariri, two years after the former premier’s killing, and show support for the anti-Syrian government.

The memorial rally went ahead despite twin bus bombings on Tuesday. The ruling coalition blamed Syria for the blasts, which killed three people and wounded 20 in a Christian area.Pro-government factions also accuse Syria of being behind the February 14 2005, suicide bombing that killed Rafik al-Hariri and a string of later attacks on anti-Syrian figures.Saad al-Hariri, son of the slain Sunni Muslim politician, and his coalition allies called the memorial rally to demonstrate support for the government.It is resisting a campaign by the Hezbollah-led opposition to topple it.Huge crowds streamed to the heavily protected Martyrs Square near Hariri’s grave hours ahead of the rally.”We are here to tell them we’re not afraid,” Bashir Diabis, 22, told Reuters.”We are willing to sacrifice ourselves for what we want…We want freedom.”Jamil Ayyash, 47, said: “We want to know who killed Rafik al-Hariri.”That’s why we are here today.”Syria denies involvement in Hariri’s assassination, which triggered international pressure that forced Damascus to withdraw its troops in 2005 after 29 years in Lebanon.Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has declared February 14 a national holiday and day of mourning.Shops, schools and businesses were closed.Troops reinforced positions in downtown Beirut.Security forces erected fences and barbed wire to keep Hariri supporters separated from opposition activists who have been camped outside Siniora’s office nearby since December 1.Nampa-ReutersThe ruling coalition blamed Syria for the blasts, which killed three people and wounded 20 in a Christian area.Pro-government factions also accuse Syria of being behind the February 14 2005, suicide bombing that killed Rafik al-Hariri and a string of later attacks on anti-Syrian figures.Saad al-Hariri, son of the slain Sunni Muslim politician, and his coalition allies called the memorial rally to demonstrate support for the government.It is resisting a campaign by the Hezbollah-led opposition to topple it.Huge crowds streamed to the heavily protected Martyrs Square near Hariri’s grave hours ahead of the rally.”We are here to tell them we’re not afraid,” Bashir Diabis, 22, told Reuters.”We are willing to sacrifice ourselves for what we want…We want freedom.”Jamil Ayyash, 47, said: “We want to know who killed Rafik al-Hariri.”That’s why we are here today.”Syria denies involvement in Hariri’s assassination, which triggered international pressure that forced Damascus to withdraw its troops in 2005 after 29 years in Lebanon.Prime Minister Fouad Siniora has declared February 14 a national holiday and day of mourning.Shops, schools and businesses were closed.Troops reinforced positions in downtown Beirut.Security forces erected fences and barbed wire to keep Hariri supporters separated from opposition activists who have been camped outside Siniora’s office nearby since December 1.Nampa-Reuters