Hariri Murder Anniversary to be Marked in Absence of Key Leaders
The March 14 opposition alliance was on Thursday gearing up to mark the 8th assassination anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri at the BIEL exhibition center in downtown Beirut in the absence of key leaders.
Under the slogan of “Our Dream Will Come True,” the coalition will stress its unity despite the latest differences among its different factions on the electoral draft-law, Hariri's al-Mustaqbal newspaper said.
Delegations, including several lawmakers, visited his gravesite near the downtown Beirut Martyrs' Square ahead of the event to pay tribute to the slain leader.
A flame was also lit near a statue of him at the spot where he was killed on the seaside boulevard.
The event that is scheduled to start at 5:30 pm will include a speech on a huge screen via video link by ex-PM Saad Hariri after an introductory statement by the coordinator of March 14's general-secretariat, former lawmaker Fares Soaid.
Last week, the secretary-general of al-Mustaqbal movement, Ahmed Hariri, said the former prime minister's speech will focus on the four-point initiative that he has recently announced.
He also said the alliance would reiterate its political support for the revolution against Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime.
On the eve of Rafik Hariri's assassination anniversary, al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader Fouad Saniora said this year's elections should be held on time to prevent Hizbullah and the Syrian regime from keeping their stranglehold on Lebanon.
Four Hizbullah members have been named suspects by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the Beirut truck bombing that killed Hariri on Feb. 14 , 2005.
The party denies the charges and has refused to hand over the suspects.
Also Wednesday, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea announced that he will not attend the rally for security reasons.
Reports said that Phalange leader Amin Gemayel is also not expected to attend.
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