Hundreds of Thousands Pay Tribute to Rafik Hariri
Hundreds of thousands of people crowded downtown Beirut”s Martyrs” Square on Saturday to mark the fourth anniversary of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri”s assassination.
Waving Lebanese and party flags as well as photos of the slain leader, men, women and children gathered under sunny skies in Martyrs” Square where members of the parliamentary majority were to address them.
Endless bus convoys poured into the capital from regions throughout the country to take part in the commemorative event. Entrances to the square were clogged with a sea of marchers.
"This is a day for all martyrs," said Joseph Saleh, 19, who traveled to Beirut from the northern town of Batroun. "We are all here to consolidate the presence of the majority alliance.
"We will be the winners of the elections and in the end the truth will prevail."
Security was tight in and around the capital with army troops deployed heavily to avoid violence.
The rally comes as final preparations are underway in The Hague for the launch of the international tribunal set up to bring Hariri”s killers to justice.
It also comes as the country prepares for legislative elections in June.
Hariri died in a massive car bombing on February 14, 2005 that also killed 22 others. The assassination was widely blamed on then Lebanese power-broker Syria, which has denied any involvement.
The U.N. tribunal to try Hariri”s alleged killers is due to open its doors on March 1, housed in the former headquarters of the Dutch intelligence service on the outskirts of The Hague.
The tribunal will also try those presumed responsible for a series of attacks on other Lebanese political and media figures.