ONE of 10 Australian men questioned by counter-terrorism officers over the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri yesterday rejected claims traces of explosive substances were found on their airline seats.

ASIO and Australian Federal Police agents questioned Yusef Elrich and his friends about the killing after arriving at Sydney airport from Lebanon on Tuesday night.

Lebanon’s Justice Minister had claimed the men were suspects after the traces were found on their seats.

But Mr Elrich, a cabinet-maker and father of two from western Sydney, said they volunteered for swabs to detect such traces after being interviewed at Sydney airport.

“And Australian Federal Police came to visit me on the weekend and said we can guarantee 100 per cent we do not suspect you of anything,” he said, adding they were still awaiting final test results from the swabs.

Lebanese Muslim Association president Keysar Trad called on Lebanese authorities to apologise to the men, who had been on theHaj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, and were returning to Australia via Lebanon after visiting relatives there.

It was unclear whether traces were present from previous passengers or if the information was incorrect.

Mr Elrich was among hundreds with Lebanese-heritage in Australia who paid tribute to Hariri yesterday, killed in a bomb explosion last Monday.

Traditionally hostile Lebanese groups spanning religious and political divides were united in grief over his death as they gathered atthe StCharbel Maronite church in western Sydney yesterday for a special service.

Many commented that Hariri had achieved in death what no one else had been able to: he had united the Lebanese community.Australian Mufti Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali described Hariri as a martyr, a “spiritual nuclear power” who’s greatness had become evident after his death. “He has produced a Lebanese people of one family, standing together to console each other,” he said.

Mr Trad said the Lebanese spirit had combined with the Australian ethos of a fair go for all. “The greatest thing that binds us as Arabs is we both call God Allah, and in Allah we can all work together,” he said. “This is Hariri’s legacy.”

Among those praying was Mamdouh Matar, of the Progressive Socialist Party of Lebanon, who said 90per cent of Lebanese political and religious groups were represented at yesterday’s service. Getting them together in the same room, even in Australia, was rare, he said. “I am not sure who is Christian and who is Muslim today. This is the way Lebanon used to be and the way Lebanon will be,” he said.