Hariri Prays at Father's Tomb on 17th Assassination Anniversary

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri visited Monday his father’s grave in downtown Beirut.

He had arrived at dawn Sunday in Beirut to mark the 17th anniversary of the assassination of father and ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

This year's anniversary is different from the past ones, as Hariri, who had announced last month his withdrawal from politics, is not expected to deliver a speech.

Media reports said he met Sunday with al-Mustaqbal Movement MPs and talked to them "as a brother, not as al-Mustaqbal chief."

He advised them not to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, the reports said.

Hariri inherited the political leadership from his late father, billionaire businessman Rafik Hariri, who was one of Lebanon's most powerful and influential politicians after the end of the 1975-90 civil war.

The late Hariri was assassinated on February 14, 2005 in a massive truck bombing in Beirut. Afterward, the family chose Saad to lead despite the fact that he has an older brother.