The day before the Hariri assassination , Fleihan was in Geneva , Switzerland . Although his wife had tried to convince him to extend his stay in Europe , Fleihan insisted on returning to Lebanon for an extraordinary Parliamentary session scheduled for 14 February 2005 . After the session , Fleihan joined Hariri in his motorcade to head back to the latter 's mansion in West Beirut . About half-way through their journey , a one-ton truck bomb exploded as they passed through the city 's upscale seafront hotel district . At least a dozen people — including Hariri and several of his bodyguards — were killed instantly ; the final death toll rose to 21 . A United Nations investigation of the incident by Detlev Mehlis , released in October 2005 , pointed the finger at Syrian and Lebanese officials
the Hariri assassination
Assassination of Rafic Hariri
Bassel Fleihan