Lebanonwire.com | Lebanese parliament begins stormy debate over Hariri killing

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February 28, 2005

Lebanese parliament begins stormy debate over Hariri killing

BEIRUT, Feb 28 (AFP) - The Lebanese parliament began a stormy debate on Monday expected to see a censure motion against the government over the killing two weeks ago of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

MPs observed a one-minute silence in memory of Hariri, who was killed in a bomb blast in Beirut on February 14 along with 17 other people in an attack widely blamed here on the government and its political masters in Syria.

But Prime Minister Omar Karameh, who took office after Hariri resigned in October, lashed out at those who charge is government played a part in the killing that set off the most serious political crisis since the civil war.

"To fire off political accusations pinning the responsibility of this criminal murder on the government without any proof is a grave injustice," he told parliament.

Outside the building, at least 20,000 people were massed in Beirut for a demonstration calling for the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanese soil.

"The Lebanese parliament, and all the Lebanese people want to know who killed Rafiq Hariri," said parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri. "But we call on all parties not to make unfounded accusations which risk dividing the Lebanese people and undermining Lebanon's relations with its neighbours."

Before the session started, opposition MP Walid Eido said: "he who votes today for the government will be viewed as an accomplice in the assassination of Rafiq Hariri."

Another MP, Marwan Hamad, told the flag-waving demonstrators: "The government has fallen."The counting of votes doesn't matter much, the important thing is what we are going to say during the session in the chamber, and what is said and the people continue to say each day."

In a brief speech to the crowds in Martyrs' Square where Hariri is buried in the heart of Beirut, the main opposition leader, Druze MP Walid Jumblatt saluted the thousands who had come through military checkpoints to protest.

He called on the Syrian army, which has around 14,000 troops in the country, to leave in line with a UN Security Council resolution.