Syrian papers urge Lebanese national unity

Syrian state newspapers urged the Lebanese people yesterday to preserve their national unity after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in a huge car bomb explosion in Beirut.

Al-Thawra said Syria had "embraced Mr Hariri as one of its own sons" and cautioned foreign media against distorting the truth.

"Matters should be put on the right track - the real target of the assassination of Hariri is Lebanon and its national unity and civil peace," the daily said.

Lebanese opposition figures have held Syrian and Lebanese authorities responsible for Mr Hariri's death and called on the government to resign.

Syria is the main powerbroker in Lebanon with about 14,000 troops stationed there.

After his October resignation as Prime Minister, Mr Hariri joined opposition calls for Syrian troops to quit Lebanon in the run-up to a general election in May.

Unusually for a foreign event, most Syrian newspapers devoted their front pages to Mr Hariri's killing on Monday. The papers echoed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's statement on Monday that the explosion was a "horrendous crime".

"Lebanon and Syria have been hit in the core through the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri. Today they are invited to more closeness and brotherliness," al-Thawra said.

Syria became a dominant player during Lebanon's civil war, and took much of the credit for ending the 1975-90 conflict.

But a UN Security Council resolution last year demanded that Syrian troops leave Lebanon, a stance Syrian officials often criticise as intervention in Lebanese affairs.

Teshreen newspaper suggested Mr Hariri's assassination was linked to arch-foe Israel. "We believe this criminal act cannot be isolated from the international pressure and the Israeli plot against Lebanon and Syria," it said.