Saleh al Aridi (1957 - 10 September 2008) was a Lebanese

Lebanon

Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...

 politician. A leader and one of the founders of the Lebanese Democratic Party

Lebanese Democratic Party

The Lebanese Democratic Party is a political party in Lebanon established by Prince Talal Arslan in 2001...

, headed by Prince Talal Arslan

Talal Arslan

-Political career:Arslan was elected to the Lebanese Parliament as a deputy of the Aley District in 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2009. From 1990 to 1992 he was the Lebanese Minister of Tourism, from 1996 to 1998 he was Minister of Emigrants and served as Minister of State twice from 2000 to 2003 and...

, his father's, Sheikh Abu Saleh Farhan Aridi, a senior sheikh of the spiritual authority of elders Druze

Druze

The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...

. Saleh Aridi and Emir Talal Arslan

Talal Arslan

-Political career:Arslan was elected to the Lebanese Parliament as a deputy of the Aley District in 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2009. From 1990 to 1992 he was the Lebanese Minister of Tourism, from 1996 to 1998 he was Minister of Emigrants and served as Minister of State twice from 2000 to 2003 and...

 are Considered the savers of the Mount Lebanon

Mount Lebanon

Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...

 from a civil war in May 2008. Aridi was killed in a car bomb attack near his house in his village Baissour, located in the Aley District

Aley District

Aley is a district in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon, to the south-east of the Lebanon's capital Beirut. The capital is Aley. Aley city was previously known as the "bride of the summers" during the 1960 and 70s, when Aley and neighboring Bhamdune were attractive tourist locations for Gulf tourists and...

 of Mount Lebanon

Mount Lebanon

Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...

.

Political background

Aridi emphasized close relations with Syria

Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

 and was a close adviser and right hand for Prince Talal Arslan

Talal Arslan

-Political career:Arslan was elected to the Lebanese Parliament as a deputy of the Aley District in 1991, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2009. From 1990 to 1992 he was the Lebanese Minister of Tourism, from 1996 to 1998 he was Minister of Emigrants and served as Minister of State twice from 2000 to 2003 and...

 head of the LDP

Lebanese Democratic Party

The Lebanese Democratic Party is a political party in Lebanon established by Prince Talal Arslan in 2001...

. He helped bridge differences within the Lebanese Druze community during the 2008 conflict in Lebanon

2008 conflict in Lebanon

The 2008 conflict in Lebanon began on May 7, after Lebanon's 17-month long political crisis spiraled out of control. The fighting was sparked by a government move to shut down Hezbollah's telecommunication network and remove Beirut Airport's security chief Wafic Shkeir over alleged ties to Hezbollah...

, specially between Emir Talal and Walid Jumblatt

Walid Jumblatt

Walid Jumblatt is a Lebanese politician and the current leader of the Progressive Socialist Party . He is the most prominent leader of Lebanon's Druze community.-Family:...

 also Aridi had been trying to reconcile rival factions within Lebanese parties, Aridi was a key middleman between the two sides and helped mediate an end to the fighting between Hizbullah and Jumblatt's men in the region.

Assassination

He was assassinated at his house in Baissour, in an attack that also injured six others on 10 September 2008. It was a historical stand for his father, Sheikh Abu Saleh Farhan Aridi, who said at the moment of the crime: "If our opponent came to us at this moment and said that he killed Saleh, I will forgive him and will not accept anyone to touch or harm him." A huge funeral was held for Aridi on September 12 2008 and was attended by all different and opponent Lebanese parties, and the Lebanese President   Michel Suleiman named Aridi "The Martyr of National Unity." The martyr was buried on the same day in the village's cemetery.

Reaction

The Syrian foreign ministry said: "Syria firmly denounces the criminal and terrorist act which claimed the life of Saleh Aridi. Syria is convinced that such crimes that target security and stability in Lebanon will not achieve their objectives."

The United States State Department spokesman

Spokesman

A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...

 Sean McCormack

Sean McCormack

Sean McCormack is a former United States Assistant Secretary of State. He was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Department Spokesman on June 2, 2005, and served until January 20, 2009.-Early career:...

 also condemned the car bombing assassination. He added: "The United States is deeply concerned about the latest violence in Lebanon. Our support for the Lebanese government and its democratic institutions is unwavering. "This support is a reflection of our unshakable commitment to the Lebanese people and their hope for democratic change and economic prosperity."http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hygYNMJd5yQFciyOLO5NmxPEvInQ

The European Union

European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

presidency "very strongly condemns the attack which cost the life of Mr. Saleh Aridi, and stressed their readiness to provide assistance until the perpetrators of terrorist acts to justice, and advised the parties concerned to continue the process that started the Doha agreement to end the persistent political crisis in Lebanon", said a statement, issued by the foreign ministry of France, which held the EU's rotating presidency.http://www.iloubnan.info/entertainment/actualite/id/28350/theme/33/liban/EU-presidency-condemns-killing-of-Lebanese-opposition-figure