Hariri takes on slain father's mantle in polls
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-17 22:19

BEIRUT - The son and political heir of slain former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri said on Tuesday the anti-Syrian opposition would sweep Lebanon's general elections and indicated he could lead the government after the ballot.

Saad al-Hariri, taking over the mantle of his father who was assassinated on Feb. 14, predicted the opposition would win 80 to 90 seats in the 128-member parliament.

The 35-year-old Hariri is expected to repeat his father's landslide victory in Beirut in 2000.

Hariri said the opposition, which has achieved its demands for the withdrawal of Syrian troops, the resignation of a pro-Damascus government and security chiefs, and an international investigation of the former premier's killing, still had much to do after the polls which begin on May 29.

"Our problem is that people think that our battle is over. Our battle is really just beginning: the battle for reforms," Hariri, a Sunni Muslim, told Reuters in an interview.

He said challenges facing the new parliament would include reforming the security services to keep them out of politics and changing the attitude of other state authorities.

Hariri declined to say if he would also press for the removal of President Emile Lahoud, a close ally of Syria and a political foe of his father, after the elections.

"There is the battle of changing the thinking of the services and the authority because some of their symbols are still in power," Hariri said.

"Should the president resign or not? This should be (discussed) after the new parliament (is elected). We'll see according to what sort of parliament we have."

Asked whether he expected to become prime minister or at least have a decisive say in who does, Hariri answered with a smile: "You said it."

Lebanon's prime ministers are traditionally Sunnis.

NEW POLITICIAN

Hariri, the second son of the billionaire tycoon who had ties with many Arab and world leaders, was thrust into politics after his family chose him to inherit his father's political legacy.

He vowed to follow his father's policies in trying to resolve Lebanon's chronic economic and social problems.

The killing of Rafik al-Harari united Sunnis, Christians and Druze into a formidable, but disparate, opposition. Street protests, backed by international pressure, forced Syria to end its 29-year military presence in Lebanon last month.

The opposition is set to gain the upper hand in the assembly, now dominated by pro-Syria lawmakers but it's not clear whether it can agree on future policies.

"The martyrdom of Rafik al-Hariri has lead us here ... it was an earthquake that shook the country," Hariri said.

He expressed hope that a U.N.-appointed international probe into the assassination would reveal and punish "the criminals and those who planned, ordered, executed and financed it."

Damascus has denied any involvement in the killing.

Last week U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed a veteran German prosecutor, Detlev Mehlis, to lead a team of about 50 investigators expected to start work soon.

The elections take place in four rounds between May 29 and June 19, with the first in mainly Sunni Beirut.

Hariri has announced three electoral lists to run in each of Beirut's three constituencies, which return a total of 19 seats. Candidates include the wife of former President Bashir Gemayel, a staunchly anti-Syrian Maronite Christian assassinated in 1982, and a Shi'ite Muslim from the Hizbollah guerrilla group.

Four of his candidates, including Solange Gemayel, have already won by default in uncontested seats.

He is also expected to field candidates in northern and eastern Lebanon. Sources close to Hariri predict his own Future bloc will win about 35 seats, making him head of the largest single group in parliament.

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