Rafic Hariri
Rafic Baha El Deen Al-Hariri (Arabic: رفيق بهاء الدين الحريري; 1 November 1944 – 14 February 2005) was a business tycoon and the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation, 20 October 2004.
He headed five cabinets during his tenure. Hariri dominated the country's post-war political and business life and is widely credited with reconstructing Beirut after the 15-year civil war.
Hariri was assassinated on 14 February 2005 when explosives equivalent to around 1000 kg of TNT were detonated as his motorcade drove past the St. George Hotel in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The investigation, by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, into his assassination is still ongoing and currently led by the independent investigator Daniel Bellemare. In its first two reports, UNIIIC indicated that the Syrian government may be linked to the assassination. Hariri's killing led to massive political change in Lebanon, including the Cedar Revolution and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.
Read more about Rafic Hariri: Early Life, Rise To Wealth, Beginnings in Philanthropy, Political Career, 1992-1998 Economic Political Policies, Hariri and Lebanon's Political Environment, Assassination, Aftermath, Corruption