Monday, February 14 2005 20:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beirut: Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who led the country for much of the 15-year period after its civil war ended in 1990 but had recently switched to opposing Syria's role in the country, was killed in a massive bomb explosion that ravaged his motorcade, the official Lebanese News Agency said today (Feb 14, 2005).

Hariri moved to the Opposition camp after leaving office in October - in large part because of a dispute concerning Syria's controversial role in Lebanon. Hariri had rejected a Syrian-backed insistence that a rival politician, President Emile Lahoud, remain in office as President for a longer period.

The United States has strongly also criticized Syria's interference in the country.

The news agency, quoting a statement from American University Hospital, said Hariri arrived dead at the hospital, his body mutilated in the massive explosion. Hariri's own Future TV broadcast citations from the Quran, the Islamic holy book.

Nine other people were also killed in the massive blast and 100 wounded, the news agency said. Several of Hariri's bodyguards were among those hurt or killed, said Lebanese Legislator Bassem Yammout who spoke to reporters at the scene.

Syria's President Bashar Assad called the attack "a horrible criminal act", according to Al-Jazeera television.

At least 20 cars were set on fire in a blast that devastated the front of the famous St George Hotel, blowing off balconies, and damaged a British bank and the Phoenicia Hotel.