Thousands in Lebanon mark death of Hariri

HUNDREDS of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut yesterday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria's long domination of its smaller neighbour.

The government gave schools the day off and businesses closed.

The demonstration in Martyrs' Square next to Mr Hariri's grave drew mostly Sunni Muslims from the former leader's sect and Christian and Druze allies. The main pro-Syrian Shi'ite Muslim groups, Hezbollah and Amal, did not take part.

The participants included women in both headscarves and jeans. Some carried signs calling for "The Truth" and shouted the name of Mr Hariri's son and political heir, Saad Hariri.

Others carried placards critical of Syria and its president, Bashar Assad. "Isn't it enough, Bashar?" said one, listing the names of anti-Syrian Lebanese who have been slain in other bombings in the last year.

"Those who killed Hariri meant to kill Lebanon, but they failed. A new united Lebanon was born," said Samia Baroudy, a housewife from the Christian suburb of Rabieh.