BEIRUT: A day after the death of former MP Nassib Lahoud, political figures and officials paid their condolences to the family of the lawmaker, who passed away after a long battle with cancer.

President Michel Sleiman, Deputy Speaker Farid Makari and MPs Butros Harb, Tammam Salam, Nuhad Mashnouq and Ghazi Youssef also paid their condolences to Lahoud’s family at their residence in the Ashrafieh neighborhood of Beirut.

The British ambassador to Lebanon, Tom Fletcher, and the Saudi ambassador, Ali Awad Aseiri also visited the family home, along with former ministers Ghassan Salameh, Elias Skaff, Maurice Sehnaoui, Raymond Audeh, Nayla Mouawad and Farid Roufayel. The former deputy speaker, Elie Ferzli, also paid his respects at the residence.

The 68-year-old Lahoud was a leading figure in the March 14 coalition and the head of the Democratic Renewal Movement. He resumed his political activity last August after two years of medical treatment in France.

MPs from across the political divide honored Lahoud’s memory Friday and reiterated that the lawmaker and a former presidential candidate was a national figure.

Former Speaker and MP Hussein Husseini issued a statement that described the loss of his “dear friend,” who had played a crucial role in laying the groundwork for the 1989 Taif Accord and advocating for political reforms during the following decade.

Husseini noted that he, Lahoud, Harb, Omar Karami, Salim al-Hoss and Mohammad Youssef Beydoun devoted an important part of their struggle as opposition politicians to author draft legislation on reforming Lebanon’s judiciary, and lowering the voting age.

Nayef Hawatmeh, the secretary-general of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, paid his condolences to the Democratic Renewal Movement and Lahoud’s family for their loss.

In a statement, Hawatmeh voiced his tribute to Lahoud’s honest stance in support of Palestinians and their national rights.

Sami Khoury, the head of the World Maronite Union, said Lahoud’s death was “an irrevocable loss.”

“Lahoud was an example of great leaders and politicians in the history of Lebanese political life,” said Khoury in a statement. “Lahoud’s national career always demonstrated his love of Lebanon’s message, freedom and dignity,” said Khoury.

He said that Lahoud fought had for the freedom, independence and sovereignty of Lebanon.

“On behalf of the World Maronite Union, I want to express our deep condolences to Lahoud’s wife, children and officials within the Democratic Renewal Movement,” Khoury added.