Muslims, Christians Unite in Tears at Hariri’s Gravesite

Lebanese Lobby, Lebanon
Feb 18 2005

Muslims recited the opening verse of the Koran and Christians drew
the sign of the cross as his daughter Hind, the youngest and only
girl of his children sat all day weeping with nuns lighting candles
around his grave.

Rafik Hariri has in dept brought the Lebanese from all sects together
in a spontaneous show of national unity never seen since the civil-war
guns fell silent 15 years ago.

The grave at the floodlit spacious courtyard of Al Amin Mosque in
downtown Beirut was full to the brim with grieving Lebanese flocking
as if in a pilgrimage to pay their last respects on his gravesite.

The ‘Hajj’ was kicked off by a nationally televised bow by France’s
President Chirac and his wife Bernadette on the mountain of roses
covering Hariri’s last resting place Wednesday night.

President Bush has vowed from the White House to bring enough pressure
to bear on the Assad regime to force Syria out of Lebanon, while all
through Thursday hundreds poured from all over Lebanon to stand by
the grave with tears welling down. Armenian boy scouts placed dozens
of floral wreaths as women sprayed the tomb with rose water.

Among ‘pilgrims’ was World Bank President James Wolfensohn who flew
in from Washington to offer condolences to the family of his long-time
friend. Also present was Turkey’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and his
wife as well as all opposition leaders on Lebanon’s political spectrum.

At Hariri’s Koreitem mansion a deluge of condolers continued for a
second straight day since his one million strong funeral Wednesday.

Lebanese Forces commander Samir Geagea’s wife, Strida, shook hands
with the ex-premier’s four sons offering her condolences. Other
opposition leaders like Walid Jumblat and Naila Mouawad, widow of
slain President Rene Mouawad, were standing on both sides of the
Hariri family in the condolence rituals.