Beirut, 14 Feb. (AKI) – The son of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri on Tuesday led a gathering of hundreds of thousands of people who turned out to commemorate the first anniversary of his father’s assassination. But the event in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square was also used by Saad Hariri and other political leaders as a platform for emotional speeches condemning Syria’s meddling in Lebanese affairs. "Lebanon will not deal with those who want to supress it. Long live Lebanon. Long live Rafiq Hariri, Long live the Lebanese people," shouted Saad Hariri who stood behind a bullet-proof glass screen while people waved red-and-white Lebanese flags.
The government gave schools the day off and businesses shuttered to give way for people to participate. Thousands began gathering in the morning under in crisp cool winter weather under sunny skies, carrying Lebanese flags and pictures of Hariri. The demonstration, described as a "gathering of loyalty and national unity" on the central Martyrs’ Square next to his grave, climaxes shortly after midday, the time when a huge truck bomb exploded on a downtown seaside street on Feb. 14, 2005, as Hariri’s motorcade drove by, killing him and 20 others. To view pictures pls cleak "READ MORE"
Saad, who for fear of an attack on his life has lived in France in recent months, was the first to speak after a minute of silence in honour of his father. Rafiq Hariri an outspoken critic of Syria’s involvement in Lebanon was killed along with 20 other people on 14 February 2005 in a massive bomb blast in Beirut.
In his speech Saad Hariri slammed Syria – some of whose top security officials have been implicated in his father’s murder by a United Nations probe – and Lebanon’s president Emile Lahoud.
"You (Syria) have left in Baabda (Lebanon’s presidential palace) a guarantor (Lahoud), a guarantor of your control, control against freedom and against the independence and sovereignity of Lebanon," he said speaking in Arabic.
The crowd cheered and responded by chanting "Ehi yallah, Suriya tla’i barra!" (Come on Syria Go Away!).
Christian politician Samir Geagea, of the Lebanese Forces party spoke next and he was followed by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt who sharply attacked Syria and it’s president Basher al-Assad.
"Basher is a terrorist. Syria is a murderer. He who governs Syria is a criminal," Jumblat said.
"We say to Damascus and its allies, know that we shall not forget. It is impossible to forget and to forgive!" Jumblat shouted.
Two prominent parties, the Muslim Shiite Hezbollah and Amal, who are also represented in Lebanon’s coalition government led by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, did not attend the commemoration.
Lebanese anti-Syrian politician from the Druse sect Walid Jumblatt, right, waves to supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri ahead of his speech during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in Martyrs’ Square, downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Jumblatt fired on Damascus, calling Syrian President Bashar Assad a ‘terrorist,’ in front of hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese who packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 15 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, seen in poster, shout and wave Lebanese flags during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in Martyrs’ Square, downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
AP – 22 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri stand on a bridge flanked by two giant posters of Hariri during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in Martyrs’ Square, downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. Writing on posters read ‘They feared you so they killed you,’ right, and ‘Lebanon lived and he died for its sake,’ left. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 31 minutes ago
Lebanese girls supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri hold the quran and flags during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
AP – 43 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri stand on a crane as they wave national flags during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 42 minutes ago
A Lebanese national flag is waved over Lebanese supporters of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 37 minutes ago
Lebanese demonstrators criticizing general aoun, protestors show signs agianst lebanese leader General Aoun , pictures showing a split btw general aoun and current hariri supporters.
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, seen in poster, wave Lebanese flags from a crane during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
AP – 48 minutes ago
A Lebanese boy wearing his national flag and a picture of slain former premier Rafiq Hariri takes part in a mass gathering to mark the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination in central Beirut. Beirut was transformed into a massive sea of red and white flags as Lebanon marked the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, still struggling to unite in the shadow of its former powerbroker Syria(AFP/Patrick Baz)
AFP – 51 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri stand on a crane and wave Lebanese flags during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in Martyrs’ Square, downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
AP – 45 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri wave national flags and hold pictures of Hariri during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 49 minutes ago
Graphic showing key events in Lebanon since the assassination of Rafiq Hariri one year ago on February 14, 2005, with a map showing the location of the bombing that killed the former premier(AFP/Graphic/Adrian Leung)
AFP/Graphic – 54 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri stand on a bridge where a giant poster of Hariri is seen hanging, during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of his assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. Writing on poster reads ‘They feared you so they killed you.’ (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 3 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, seen in poster in the background, shout during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
AP – 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
A Lebanese supporter of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri waves two national flags as she stands on the top of a building overlooking the crowd during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of his assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
A Lebanese supporter of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri holds a banner, set on fire, showing the four pro-Syrian generals who were arrested last August for alleged involvement in the Feb. 14 assassination of Hariri, during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 26 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, seen in pictures, hold a banner criticizing Syria’s ruling Baath party as others wave Lebanese flags during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 34 minutes ago
A Lebanese supporter of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri waves a Lebanese flag during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
AP – 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
Saad al-Hariri (C), son of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, joins hands with opposition leaders Walid Jumblatt (R) and Samir Geagea (L) during a gathering of an estimated 500,000 flag-waving Lebanese marking the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination in Beirut February 14, 2006. Half a million Lebanese packed central Beirut on Tuesday, a year to the day after the assassination of al-Hariri, giving new impetus to Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian coalition. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 1 hour, 42 minutes ago
A wide angle view shows a gathering of an estimated 500, 000 flag-waving Lebanese marking the first anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut February 14, 2006. Half a million Lebanese packed central Beirut on Tuesday, a year to the day after the assassination of al-Hariri, giving new impetus to Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian coalition. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 1 hour, 45 minutes ago
A wide angle view shows demonstrators holding a giant flag alongside an estimated 500,000 flag-waving Lebanese marking the first anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut February 14, 2006. Half a million Lebanese packed central Beirut on Tuesday, a year to the day after the assassination of al-Hariri, giving new impetus to Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian coalition. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
Lebanese demonstrators stand on a ramp next to a mosque during a gathering of an estimated 500, 000 flag-waving Lebanese marking the first anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut February 14, 2006. Half a million Lebanese packed central Beirut on Tuesday, a year to the day after the assassination of al-Hariri, giving new impetus to Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian coalition. REUTERS/Sharif Karim
Reuters – 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
Lebanese supporters of Lebanon‘s slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri hold a banner with names of the Lebanese anti-Syrian politicians who were assassinated in different bombings, during a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of Hariri’s assassination, in the Martyrs’ Square, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006. Hundreds of thousands of flag-waving Lebanese packed a square in central Beirut on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Hariri, a momentous event that ended Syria’s long domination of its smaller neighbor. Writing on banner reads ‘Rafik, Bassel, Samir, George, Gibran. Isn’t it enough, Bashar?’ referring to the Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
AP – 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
Lebanese demonstrators are silhouetted on a ramp during a gathering of an estimated 500, 000 flag-waving Lebanese marking the first anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut February 14, 2006. Half a million Lebanese packed central Beirut on Tuesday, a year to the day after the assassination of al-Hariri, giving new impetus to Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian coalition. REUTERS/Sharif Karim
Reuters – 1 hour, 52 minutes ago
A lone demonstrator stands above a crowd of an estimated 500,000 flag-waving Lebanese marking the first anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut February 14, 2006. Half a million flag-waving Lebanese packed central Beirut on Tuesday, a year to the day after the assassination of al-Hariri, giving new impetus to Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian coalition. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 2 hours, 3 minutes ago
A Lebanese woman holds a Koran and a crucifix during a gathering of an estimated 500,000 flag-waving Lebanese marking the first anniversary of the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut February 14, 2006. Half a million flag-waving Lebanese packed central Beirut on Tuesday, a year to the day after the assassination of al-Hariri, giving new impetus to Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian coalition. REUTERS/Sharif Karim
Reuters – 2 hours, 7 minutes ago
A demonstrator holds a poster of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri during a rally to mark the first anniversary of his assassination in Beirut February 14, 2006. Half a million flag-waving Lebanese packed central Beirut on Tuesday, a year to the day after the assassination of al-Hariri, giving new impetus to Lebanon‘s anti-Syrian coalition. The poster reads ‘Freedom’. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj
Reuters – 2 hours, 10 minutes ago