Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made a similar accusation against the pro-government March 14 coalition a few days after the end of the 2006 summer war between Israel and Hezbollah.

"Today you have come again to say we want a president. And we tell you we will have a president," Hariri said in his speech to mark the third anniversary of the assassination of his father, five-time Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

"The enemies of Lebanon are still trying to assassinate the Lebanese people just as the Israeli enemy tried to assassinate the Lebanese people during the 2006 July war," Hariri told the crowd from behind a bullet-proof glass.

Hariri blames Syria for the killing of his father in a massive suicide truck bombing in Beirut and for a series of bombings and assassinations since. Hariri's assassination ignited mass protests and international pressure that forced Syria to withdraw its army from Lebanon after 29 years of control.

Hezbollah claimed victory after that 34-day war in which neither of Israel's stated aims -- to recover two captured soldiers and halt rocket attacks on northern Israel -- was achieved.

Hariri said Damascus "has been at truce with Israel for the last 34 years, preventing the Syrian people from launching any form of resistance to liberate the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights."

"This Israeli product (Syria) is dividing the Palestinians and trying to drag the resistance (Hezbollah) in Lebanon into a civil war that will destroy the country and devastate our Lebanon," he added.

On the presidential elections crisis, Hariri said: "We want a President for the republic. They tried to assassinate Beirut, the international tribunal and the presidency by installing void."

"Together we will continue to insist that Gen. (Michel) Suleiman is elected President in order to open a new phase of dialogue and consensus and cooperate for Lebanon's sake," he added. "This is the goal of the citizens gathered here in Martyrs Square as well as in the southern suburbs for the funeral service of resistance commander (Imad Mughniyeh)."

Hariri reached out to the opposition, telling it that "our hand is extended and will remain to be stretched out, no matter what the difficulties."

Concerning an Arab League summit due to be held in Damascus in March, Hariri said "there will be no value to any summit in the absence of a Lebanese president."

Sources: Naharnet, Ya Libnan