Paris, Feb 16, SPA -- French President Jacques Chirac was going toBeirut on Wednesday to pay his condolences to the wife andfamily of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri,assassinated Monday, Chirac's office said. Chirac and Hariri were friends. The French leaderpresented Hariri with the Grand Cross of the Legion ofHonor, France's most prestigious award, in 1996. France hasasked for an international investigation into Hariri'sdeath in a bombing. In Beirut, Chirac planned to pay hommage to Hariri as«the person who always incarnated Lebanon's desire forindependence, freedom and democracy,» Chirac's officesaid. «He will mark the unfailing friendship of France and theFrench people for Lebanon and the Lebanese people.» --SPA1427 Local Time 1127 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/239960