Al-Hariri, 60, resigned in October 2004 after parliament amended the Lebanese constitution to extend pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud's term by three years. Al-Hariri had opposed the extension, but Syria supported it.

Also, al-Hariri recently joined calls by the opposition for Syria to quit Lebanon in the run-up to the general election in May.

Al-Hariri's supporters in the Lebanese opposition said they held Syria and the pro-Damascus Lebanese government responsible for his murder.