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A sea of mourners pay their last respects to Hariri. (Reuters)
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BEIRUT,
February 16 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Hundreds of
thousands of Lebanese mourners massed in Beirut Wednesday, February
16, under a sea of Lebanese flags for the funeral of former prime
minister Rafiq Hariri, whose slaying has raised fears for the future
of the nation.
Church
bells rang out and mosques resounded with verses from the Nobel
Qur’an as Hariri's coffin, draped in a Lebanese flag, was carried in
a cortege through the streets of the capital to his final resting
place, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Hariri’s
sons, relatives, aides and supporters walked behind the ambulance
carrying the coffin while his wife Nazek and other female relatives
looked on from a balcony overlooking the street.
“Beirut
weeps for its martyr. Beirut salutes Rafiq Hariri,” said one banner.
Helicopters
flew overhead as police and army commandos fanned out across the
capital for the funeral in a mosque in Beirut’s Martyrs Square.
Hariri,
hailed as the father of Lebanon’s post-war reconstruction, was
killed along with 14 people, including seven bodyguards, in a massive
explosion on the Beirut seafront that pundits said was most likely
caused by state security agencies.
Syrian
Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam held Israel accountable for the
“horrendous crime” as he paid his last respects Monday to the
slain billionaire Monday.
Lebanon's
opposition has accused the Syrian and Lebanese regimes of being
responsible for the killing, demanded the resignation of the
pro-Damascus government and the pullout of Syria’s 14,000 troops
from Lebanon.
A
huge crowd chanting anti-Syrian slogans packed the neighborhood
outside Hariri’s home, drowned under portraits of the five-times
former premier.
“Listen
well, Listen well. Syria is the source of terrorism” and “Syria
out” the crowd chanted.
At
dawn Lebanese policemen, commandos in brown camouflage uniforms and
marines armed with machine guns and other weapons were deployed along
the route from Hariri’s home to Martyrs Square.
Sidewalks
were cordoned off with yellow police tape and barricades to prevent
mourners from spilling into the streets that will be used by the
funeral cortege and police trucks removed cars parked on the side of
the road.
Armored
vehicles could be seen parked in back streets and sharpshooters were
positioned on bridges.
No
State Funeral
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Relatives and family mourn at Hariri’s coffin. (Reuters)
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His
family has called for a massive public turnout, spurning a government
offer to hold a state funeral and demanding that no Lebanese official
attends.
As
the cortege moved across teeming neighborhoods to the route to the
Mohammad Al-Amine mosque that Hariri himself built with his own funds,
the people of Beirut watched from balconies and showered the crowd
with rice.
Mrs.
Hariri was later seen entering the ambulance with Hariri’s sister MP
Bahiya Hariri, minutes before the vehicle began inching its way along
a five-kilometer (three mile) route to the mosque for the funeral
ceremony.
Hariri
and his seven bodyguards killed will be buried in an esplanade
adjacent to the Mohammed Al-Amin mosque in Martyrs Square.
Hundreds
of workers toiled round the clock to prepare the mosque site for his
burial.
Tons
of fresh earth were smoothed over the grounds, felt carpets covered
the asphalt, and hundreds of white plastic chairs set up for the
Lebanese and foreign guests expected to attend.
French
President Jacques Chirac announced he would travel to Beirut Wednesday
to pay tribute to his close friend Hariri, while several other
countries -- including the United States -- are being represented by
senior officials.
Arab
League Secretary General Amr Moussa arrived in Beirut to express his
heartfelt solidarity with Hariri’s family.
Black
flags and posters showing a smiling Hariri were hung on buildings,
electricity pylons and cars.
Candles
in white paper bags were lined along the streets and banners pledging
allegiance to Hariri could be seen everywhere.
“Hariri,
you will remain in our hearts. We will never forget you,” said one.
