Dozens of foreign dignitaries and thousands of ordinary Lebanese crowded the funeral cortege of slain former Prime Minister Rafik al Hariri, in an emotional national farewell.

The atmosphere was charged with anger and sorrow as thousands of mourners raised clenched fists and shouted slogans hostile to Syria.

Slain former Prime Minister Rafik al Hariri's sons and at least a dozen political allies accompanied the ambulance carrying his body to the Beirut mosque, where he was to be buried.

Lebanese troops and police appeared discrete and there were few trappings of a state funeral. Mr. Hariri's family had asked the government not to participate.

Several dozen Arab dignitaries, as well as French President Jacques Chirac and American Assistant Secretary of State William Burns are attending the funeral.

Lebanese opposition politicians and ordinary citizens continue to accuse Syria, the main power-broker in Lebanon, of killing the much-loved five-time former prime minister. Syria denies involvement in the Beirut shootout that killed Mr. Hariri and ten others.

Angry Lebanese are reported to have burned a Syrian truck in northern Lebanon and attacked Syrian workers in the southern port city, Sidon.