Mikaiti declares Feb 14 official holiday

Lebanese Premier Najib Mikati on Wednesday declared February 14 an official holiday, in commemoration of PM Rafik Hariri’s assassination. No former prime minister has taken such a step since Hariri’s murder, including leaders of Future Movement Fouad Siniora and Saad Hariri, Rafik Hariri’s son.   The statement said: “All public administrations and educational institutions, both public and private, are to close on Tuesday, 14/2/2012, on the seventh anniversary of PM Rafik Hariri’s assassination.” Official departments and institutions used to informally declare February 14 a ‘half-day’, in order to be able to participate in the commemorations. Analysts linked the move to the anticipated Hariri-Mikati meeting, which is expected to be held next Saturday, on the sidelines of Mikati’s visit to Paris. The Lebanese Prime Minister is scheduled to go on a two-day trip to the French capital on Thursday, where he will meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Prime Minister Francois Fillon, and Foreign Minister Alain Juppe