Former prime minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated today in Beirut. Hariri, who dominated Lebanon's post-civil war political scene, was killed when a huge car bomb hit his motocade. Nine others died as well.
Since the end of the country's civil war in 1990, Lebanon has become a fairly peaceful, stable and prosperous country. Most observers consider Lebanon the most liberal and cosmopolitan in the Middle East.
Hariri served as prime minister from 1992-98 and again from 2000 until his resignation after parliament amended the Lebanese constitution to extend Syrian-backed President [Gen.] Emile Lahoud's term by three years. Lahoud had been set to leave office last November noted CNN.
Syria maintains a 16,000-strong occupational force in Lebanon. Many see Damascus' invisible hand in real control of Lebanon's politics, though this has brought relatively little international and regional criticism [apparently Occupation and meddling in other countries' affairs are only bad things when done by the capitalists and/or Zionists].
Hariri, who resigned from the government last October, recently joined calls by the opposition for Syria to quit Lebanon in the run-up to general elections in May, Reuters reported.
Needless to say, Syria has instantly become a prime suspect in Hariri's assassination, though Damascus denied involvement. "We condemn all those who are trying to create a turmoil in Lebanon, our brother Lebanon," said Syria's foreign minister, who called the killing a 'heinous act.'
"The assassination of al-Hariri is painful news. It is a black day in Syria, Lebanon and the entire Arab world," countered Syria's information minister.
The degree of credibility given to Syria's denials is an open question.
As expected, some dutifully followed their ideological pre-disposition to blame Israel for everything and the bad weather. "A well-organized terrorist organization such as the Zionist regime has the capability of such an operation," huffed a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry.
No explanation as to why Israel would want dead a moderate, modernizing, anti-Syrian politician.
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