Hariri in bitter attack on Syria

Saad Hariri is a leading light in the anti-Syrian bloc in Lebanon

The leader of the parliamentary majority in Lebanon, Saad Hariri, has strongly criticised the president of neighbouring Syria, Bashar al-Assad.

Mr Hariri accused the Syrian president of inciting conflict in Lebanon.

Saad Hariri is the son of former PM Rafik Hariri who was assassinated in a huge bombing in February 2005.

Mr Hariri also angrily criticised Israel for its "black history" in Lebanon, saying that all the bombings would not break Lebanese unity.

In a no-holds-barred attack on the Syrian leader, Mr Hariri also accused Mr Assad of trying to sow "discord" in Lebanon.

Mr Hariri said a speech on Tuesday by Mr Assad which suggested that anti-Syrian forces in Lebanon were aligning themselves with Israel, was damaging to both Lebanon and Syria.

'Threat'

"There is a neighbouring president who is threatening to destroy the political regime in Lebanon because he could not digest the Lebanese people's decision to throw out his corruption and troops from Lebanon," he said.

Mr Hariri was referring to the Syrian troop pullout from Lebanon in 2005 which followed strong domestic and international protests triggered by the assassination of Rafik Hariri.

Syria has denied any role in the assassination, but the continuing UN investigation has implicated high-level Syrian and Lebanese officials and Lebanese allies in the murder.

In his most bitter criticism, Saad Hariri said: "The regime in Syria is trading with the blood of the children of Qana, Gaza and Baghdad."

Mr Hariri, a strong backer of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government, called on Lebanese to rally behind the government of Lebanon.