ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The government will observe a day of mourning on Tuesday to express grief over the death of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a bomb blast on Monday.

Pakistan's flag will fly at half-mast on Tuesday. Meanwhile, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday condemned the killing of Mr Hariri. "The people of Pakistan condole with the people and government of Lebanon as well as the family of Rafik Hariri over this tragic and irreparable loss," Musharraf said in a statement.

"Hariri was a great friend of Pakistan. Over the years, he had worked hard to strengthen relations between Pakistan and Lebanon." Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said he was shocked to learn about the death of Hariri, a 'towering personality in Lebanese and regional politics'. -Agencies