Lebanon lays ex-PM Hariri to rest

Lebanon lays ex-PM Hariri to rest

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The body of the former prime minister, Rafik Hariri, has been laid to rest inside a mosque in central Beirut. Prayers are being said for his soul. Thousands of Lebanese attended the funeral in the heart of the capital, rebuilt thanks to the efforts of Mr Hariri.

Christians, Muslims and Druze were all grieving for the death of the Sunni Muslim billionaire who symbolised the revival of Lebanon after years of bloody civil war.

Earlier this morning thousands of mourners had gathered outside the home of Mr Hariri and chanted anti-Syrian slogans, calling for Syrian troops to withdraw from the country. Syria has been blamed for the death of Mr Hariri, but the Syrian Vice President, Abd-al-Halim Khaddam, attended the ceremony. The Lebanese government was not formally represented.

laid to rest
buried

soul
the spiritual part of a person which some people believe continues to exist after the person dies

the heart of
the centre of

grieving
feeling sad because someone has died

symbolised
represented something

revival
when something becomes more popular or active again

chanted
repeated something continuously

withdraw
to move out

blamed
to blame: to say or think that someone was responsible for doing something wrong

represented
to represent: to attend an event officially on behalf of someone or a group of people (in this case the Lebanese government)