Lebanese president visits Hariri’s family
(DPA)

18 February 2005
BEIRUT - Lebanese President Emile Lahoud visited on Friday the house of the late former prime minister Rafik Hariri to pay his condolences.
The family of Hariri, who was killed in a massive explosion on Monday along 14 others, had asked the Lebanese government to stay away from the funeral.
“We condemn this big crime that has hit Lebanon and the Arab world ... this is a great loss for everybody,” Lahoud said after paying his condolences to Hariri’s family.
The president stressed that “the investigations are continuing to reveal the culprits who planned and committed this crime against the martyr of Lebanon and his friends.”
Hariri’s family and allies have accused the Lebanese and Syrian intelligence services of carrying out the attack.
Meanwhile Lebanon is hunting for a group of people who flew from Lebanon to Australia a few hours after the explosion that killed Hariri, Lebanese Justice Minister Adnan Adoum said Friday.
“Six people left Beirut International Airport for Australia a few hours after the attack and traces of TNT powder were found on the chairs from the plane,” he said.
“These people have links with fundamentalist circles. I can’t say more because of the demands of the investigation,” he added.
A previously unknown Islamist group claimed it carried out Monday’s bombing, saying it was in revenge for Hariri’s links with Saudi Arabia where security forces have killed members of extremist groups.