Hariri to Announce 'Red Lines' at BIEL's Rafik Hariri Rally

Prime Minister Saad Hariri will on Wednesday reaffirm al-Mustaqbal Movement's “constant principles” and “red lines” during a Beirut rally marking the 13th anniversary of ex-PM Rafik Hariri's assassination, al-Mustaqbal newspaper said.

Hariri will start his speech with “a special gesture about Jerusalem, the capital of Palestine and Arabs, before underlining al-Mustaqbal Movement's national and electoral stances,” the daily said.

The address will tackle “the Taef Accord, the protection of Lebanon from the wars in the region, rejection of interference in the affairs of Arab countries, adherence to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the monopolization of arms in the hands of the state, and empowering the army and the official security forces,” the newspaper added.

It said the “red lines” involve “rejecting any electoral alliance with Hizbullah, rejecting any attempt to undermine stability, rejecting pressures aimed at pushing Mustaqbal to a sectarian policy, and clinging to the dissociation policy” of Lebanon towards regional conflicts.

The Mustaqbal-organized rally will kick off at 4:00 pm at the Beirut International Exhibition & Leisure Center (BIEL).

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper, it is still unclear whether Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Kataeb Party chief MP Sami Gemayel will take part in the rally. It said Geagea may snub the event for “security reasons.” The daily, however, confirmed that ex-MP Fares Soaid was not invited to the rally.

Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a massive suicide truck bombing that targeted his convoy in central Beirut on February 14, 2005. The attack killed 21 other people and wounded nearly 300.

The STL is trying four Hizbullah members in absentia over their alleged involvement in the murder.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has dismissed the court as a U.S.-Israeli scheme and vowed that the accused will never be found.