Leaders warn region could be destabilised

MIDDLE EAST: Arab leaders and commentators condemned Monday's assassination of the former Lebanese premier, Mr Rafiq Hariri, and warned that the destabilisation of the Levant could create a crisis in the entire region.

The Arab League secretary general, Mr Amr Moussa said: "It's a heinous crime committed not only against Rafiq Hariri but against Lebanon."

The cabinet of Saudi Arabia, Mr Hariri's second homeland, rejected "such terrorist acts that target innocent lives and spread chaos and destruction".

Jordan's King Abdullah said the attack was a "cowardly criminal assassination".

The Palestinian President, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, said: "The Palestinian people will never forget the efforts of the martyr Hariri to support them in their fight for freedom and independence."

Protesting accusations of culpability, the Syrian President, Dr Bashar al-Assad, called the murder of Mr Hariri an "odious criminal act" and pledged his country's support for Lebanon.

He said the situation caused by Mr Hariri's death was "serious and delicate" and he urged the Lebanese to unite and shun "those who strive to sow division amongst them".

The Jordan Times said: "The assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri is a savage blow to a country that was just beginning to enjoy relative, admittedly fragile, peace. Monday's carnage was reminiscent of the devastating conflict that crippled Lebanon from 1975 to 1990."

The paper called upon the Lebanese to overcome divisions and hold their parliamentary poll as planned.

Mr Hariri's own newspaper, al-Mustaqbal, wrote: "Leader Rafiq Hariri fell martyr in a great battle to bring Lebanese political life back to a democratic course through free parliamentary elections." These are due in May.

In an editorial Beirut's English daily, the Daily Star, said: "The pressing concern of the moment is how to prevent Lebanon from tottering over the brink of the abyss."

The paper warned against "any political, economic, intelligence and . . . military measures" undertaken by external forces.

"The leadership in Beirut and Damascus," the editorialist wrote, "have to act very quickly to head off international intervention that could once again make a wilderness of the Levant".

Egypt's al-Ahram adapted this theme, stating: "This terrorist act is a real test and challenge for all the Lebanese people regardless of denomination. They should face it by being united. They should not allow enemies to sow the seeds of sectarianism" or give "terrorists or foreign hands a chance to tamper with their security and stability."

The Arab News published in Jeddah called the assassination "a devastating blow for Lebanon" and said it is imperative to "ensure Lebanon does not explode".

The London-based pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat called the assassination "a stab in Lebanon's back and a blow to the hopes the Arabs had for stability".