Suleiman Says Lebanon to Annually Commemorate Wadih al-Safi

President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday announced that Lebanon will annually commemorate singing legend Wadih al-Safi, who passed away on Friday evening.

"No one can do justice to the late artist. Lebanon has its national anthem but the country of cedars also has several anthems performed by the late legend," Suleiman said, as he offered condolences at the St. George Church on Tuesday afternoon.

“It is true that Wadih al-Safi has passed away, but his voice will keep resonating in Lebanon's plains, mountains and valleys,” the president said.

“Lebanon is not in mourning, as Wadih al-Safi's memory will remain in this country and we will commemorate him every year,” he added.

On Monday, Lebanon bid farewell to al-Safi in a popular mass held at St. George Cathedral in downtown Beirut.

Several officials and music figures attended the funeral while Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi presided over the mass.

Al-Safi was laid to rest on Monday evening in his hometown of Niha in the Shouf region.

Al-Safi, 92, died at Bellevue Medical Center in al-Metn's neighborhood of al-Mansourieh on Friday evening.

The state-run National News Agency noted that the singer was transferred to the hospital at 7:30 pm, after falling ill at the house of his son Tony.