UN Security Council Resolution 1559
Syria will then suspect Rafik Hariri, with his address book, to campaign in favor of a new UN resolution calling for the disarmament of Hezbollah and the evacuation of Syrian troops.
Adopted on September 2, 2004 by the UN Security Council, at the joint initiative of France and the United States, by 9 votes out of 15, and 6 abstentions, UN resolution 1559 came to demand ” the end of any military presence other than Lebanese on the territory “, the dismantling of militias such as Hezbollah and the organization of presidential elections, while Damascus wished to extend the mandate of President Emile Lahoud.
It was also a question of reinforcing Rafic Hariri vis-a-vis the Syrians.
However, the mandate of Emile Lahoud will however be renewed for 3 new years on November 23, 2004 by the Lebanese parliament by 96 votes and 29 votes against. The Current Futures Group, including Rafic Hariri himself, voted in favor of the extension after Rafic Hariri was summoned to Damascus.
Emile Lahoud will then appoint Rachid Karamé prime minister, bringing Rafic Hariri into the opposition.
The shock of the assassination of Rafic Hariri
The relationship between Damascus and Koreitem, home of now former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, having deteriorated for a long time, he would have received numerous death threats from Damascus.
The former Lebanese prime minister will be killed along with 21 other people in an explosion as his vehicle passes near the St. Georges. He had just left parliament and just had a coffee, Star’s Plaza .
Among the dead were several bodyguards of Rafic Hariri and the former Minister of Economy Bassel Fleihan as well as people were coincidentally at the scene.
The explosive charge will be estimated at nearly a ton of TNT.
Major almost daily demonstrations will then take place in Lebanon with the support of the international community, while Syria is accused of being at the origin of this assassination.
Omar Karamé will be forced to resign on April 14, 2005, replaced the next day by Nagib Mikati.
In the end, the Syrian troops will leave Lebanon on April 26, 2005 and then begin a new chapter in the history of the two countries.
