Dubai businessmen mourn leader's death

Prominent Lebanese figures in Dubai mourned the death of Rafik Hariri, Lebanon's former prime minister.

Joseph Ghusoub, the incoming president of International Advertising Association, described Hariri's assassination as an "earthquake". "It is a major loss for Arabs and Lebanese who believe in peace and democracy. May God bless his soul.

"He was instrumental in rebuilding Lebanon and will never be forgotten," Ghusoub said.

"I hope Lebanon wakes up and the [drift towards] madness will be stopped. Lebanese will come to face a new reality what will we do without Hariri?" he said. "He had a formidable presence, and had built a network around the world, in terms of his business initiatives. Replacing him will be quite difficult."

Elias Abu Saab, the American University in Dubai's Vice-President, called Hariri's death a "disaster". "It's a disaster for the stability in Lebanon and the region. Those behind the assassination are enemies of peace and Lebanon's prosperity. Hariri is an irreplaceable figure."

Gassan Aridi, head of Alpha Tours, said yesterday marked the death of "an exceptional man" and that freedom itself had been murdered.

"He was an exceptional man, a clean political figure the best in Lebanon." "This was a crime on so many levels. Yesterday, they assassinated freedom. What a shame in a country, that enjoys democracy. Events should never had lead to this."

Sunni Muslims would have to "wait a long time" to find a similar leader, Aridi said. He said he suspected "the same group that assassinated Marwan Hamadeh" killed Hariri.

Fadi Ghosn, Sharjah Bank's director, said he was worried for Lebanon's future and fears a return to civil war.

"We fear the democratic process may be at risk. The future is vague. We hope that war doesn't return."

He described Hariri as "Lebanon's voice in the outside world".

Sa'ad Al Zein, head of Abraj real estate, said he "cried like a small child" when he heard the news.

Al Zein said whoever was behind the former prime minister's death wanted to destroy Lebanon.

Al Zein said he did not think there would be internal strife, and hoped there would be no retaliation for Hariri's assassination. "I'm not Sunni myself, and I wish my Sunni brothers the best. What I want to say is this Hariri was bigger than the sect [Sunnis] he represented. He was a leader of Lebanon."

Nidal Abu Zaki, head of Orient Planet, said there was symbolism in assassinating Al Hariri.

"Al Hariri left his mark on Lebanon he was the man who rebuilt the country. I think the people who did this hate Lebanon. They hate its newfound sense of internal peace. They want to go back to the days of civil war."