BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri said Sunday he returned to Lebanon to fight terrorism and "prevent another assassination" of his father.
Saad Hariri, who heads the "future bloc" in Parliament, told reporters in his Beirut palace that he returned home after living between France and Saudi Arabia for the past several months to "renew our vow to fight terrorism," which he said started in Lebanon with his father's murder.
Since five-time Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive explosion in Beirut on February 14 last year, a series of explosions have killed and injured anti-Syrian journalists and politicians.
Many Lebanese blame the assassination, being investigated by a U.N.-appointed commission, on the Syrian regime, which withdrew its forces from Lebanon in late April following international and local pressure.
In reference to the Syrian security apparatus, Saad Hariri said "they thought the fangs of the security services might resurface, but the Lebanese will never allow the criminals to return."
He implicitly accused the Syrians of trying to provoke sectarian sedition in the country, referring to Muslim riots that broke out last week in the Christian district of Ashrafiyeh during a protest against cartoons insulting Prophet Mohammad in a Danish newspaper.
Protesters set the Danish embassy on fire and attacked nearby churches.
Hariri, who was abroad to avoid a possible assassination, said "the criminals are trying to give Lebanon just two options, either chaos or returning to the imposed trusteeship security system. But we say we will not allow sedition entry into Lebanon."
He urged the Lebanese to gather at Martyrs Square in downtown Beirut on Feb. 14 to mark the first anniversary of his father's death, saying the slogan raised would be "Lebanon first."
