Thousands of chanting, flag-waving mourners gathered today in an emotion-charged prelude to the funeral procession for slain ex-premier Rafik Hariri, the man credited with rebuilding post-civil war Lebanon and seen as quietly opposing Syrian influence in his country’s affairs.

RAFIK HARIRI, a billionaire who helped rebuild his country after decades of war but resigned as Lebanese prime minister last fall after a sharp dispute with Syria, was killed yesterday in a massive bomb explosion that tore through his motorcade.

Lebanon’s billionaire former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive bomb explosion that ravaged his motorcade on Beirut’s famed seafront corniche today.

The American University Hospital said Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was dead when he arrived at hospital after the massive bomb explosion that ravaged his motorcade on Beirut’s famed seafront corniche today.

A car bomb in Beirut wounded former Lebanese Cabinet minister Marwan Hamadeh and killed his driver early today, security officials said.