Beirut  - Saad Hariri, second son and political heir to late Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, has vowed to deliver national unity if his Future Movement is returned to power in Sunday's parliamentary election.

In an exclusive interview with the German Press Agency dpa, Hariri pledged to continue what he called his father's legacy, by building a strong Lebanese state, with "an Arab identity, democracy, freedom and independence."

Hariri, 39, inherited his father's fortune and leadership of the anti-Syrian ruling majority when Rafik was assassinated in a massive Beirut car-bomb in February 2005.

After almost twelve months of fragile government since a Qatari-brokered unity deal in 2008, Lebanon is now poised to choose a new parliament. The election expected to be a tight race between Hariri's bloc, and a coalition led by the Iranian-backed Shiite Islamist movement, Hezbollah.

Speaking on the edges of an election rally in the Bekaa Valley region, Hariri told dpa that the upcoming polls were a "primary line" in the defence of Lebanon - both from the stress of internal conflicts that threaten to rupture the country, and from outside influences that seek to determine the country's affairs.

"I believe that the election is crucial, because through it we, the Lebanese, reiterate that democracy is the basis of rule in Lebanon, and that the people are the source of authority, and that their freedom cannot be confiscated by resorting to violence," he said.

The election contest, as well as being an expression of Lebanon's complex demographic make-up, is also being interpreted as a proxy struggle between Iran and Syria on the side of Hezbollah, and Saudi Arabia plus the Western powers backing Hariri.

Syria, which had stationed troops in Lebanon since the 1975-1990 civil war until 2005, has long been accused by Hariri and his supporters of being behind the murder of his father, and of attempting since then to regain influence in its neighbouring state.

The killing of Rafik Hariri "targeted Lebanon's national unity and economic development," he said.

Hariri's alliance, which bands together an conglomeration of Sunni muslims, Druze and Christians, under a mostly liberal political and economic umbrella, won power in the 2005 elections shortly after the murder of Rafik.

If returned to government, Hariri said, the so-called March 14 Alliance would "block any attempt to restore custodianship over Lebanon" by outside powers.

But with the political fortunes of Hezbollah, and the country's Shiite community in general having been on the rise since the 2006 war with Israel, Hariri's alliance is not guaranteed an easy run.

If Hezbollah wins the election, Hariri told dpa that his Future Movement would not participate in a hypothetical unity government with the militant group.

"We would then be in the ranks of the opposition against the ruling majority," he said.

Hariri's movement has been accused, during the heat of the election battle, of buying votes.

"Our people believe in us and they do not need any money to cast their ballots," Hariri retorted.

Since 2005, four members of the March 14 Alliance have been assassinated, bringing the bloc's share of parliamentary seats down from 72 to 68.

Hariri has also attempted to build an election platform on issues other than the sectarian divide or external power-brokers, having worked to keep Lebanon's relatively open, commerce-friendly economy running despite the political uncertainty of the past four years.

"This election ... will define the face of Lebanon's economy. We have drawn up a comprehensive economic and social program to help the people, who are themselves Lebanon's main wealth," he said.

Hariri, surrounded by dozens of bodyguards accompanying his every move, said as he left to address the Bekaa rally, that "we have entered this election with optimism, and on June 7, the people will make their choice." (dpa)