Rafik Hariri
Rafic Hariri رفيق حريري Prime Minister of Lebanon In office 31 October 1992 – 2 December 1998 Preceded by Rashid el-Solh Succeeded by Selim Hoss In office 23 October 2000 – 21 October 2004 Preceded by Selim Hoss Succeeded by Omar Karami Personal details Born Rafic Baha El Deen Al Hariri (1944-11-01)1 November 1944 Sidon, Lebanon Died 14 February 2005(2005-02-14) (aged 60) Beirut, Lebanon Nationality Lebanese and Saudi Arabian Political party Future Movement Children Bahaa, Saad, Houssam Religion Islam (Sunnah) Rafic Baha El Deen Al Hariri (Arabic: رفيق بهاء الدين الحريري ; 1 November 1944 – 14 February 2005) was a business tycoon and the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation, 20 October 2004. He headed five cabinets during his tenure. Hariri dominated the country's post-war political and business life and is widely credited with reconstructing Beirut after the 15-year civil war. Hariri was assassinated on 14 February 2005 when explosives equivalent to around 1800 kg of TNT were detonated as his motorcade drove past the St. George Hotel in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The investigation, by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, into his assassination is still ongoing and currently led by the independent investigator Daniel Bellemare. In its first two reports, UNIIIC indicated that the Syrian government may be linked to the assassination. Defense lawyers tasked with prosecuting those responsible for the 2005 bombing said they had received evidence linking Bashar Assad's phone to the case. Hariri's killing led to massive political change in Lebanon, including the Cedar Revolution and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.