KUN0083 4 GEN 0303 KUWAIT /KUNA-JBE9 REL-LEBANON-MOSQUE-INAUGURATION Grand Mosque in Beirut reopened after restoration By: Belal Shuaib BEIRUT, June 4 (KUNA) -- The ancient and famous Grand Omari Mosque, which was destroyed during Lebanon's civil war, was reopened on Friday after being restored and enlarged on the expense of a Kuwaiti woman, Suad Mohammad Al-Humaidhi, in honor of her parents. The inauguration ceremony was attended, beside Humaidhi, by Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, Kuwaiti Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Abdallah Al-Maatooq, Lebanese Mufti Sheikh Mohamad Rashid Qabbani, Lebanese ministers and MPs in addition to Kuwait's ambassador to Lebanon Ali Suleyman Al-Saeed. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Humaidhi said, all people were pleased for this achievement, hoping to be able to go on with such charitable projects that are useful for both Lebanese and Kuwaiti people and the whole Arab World. For his part, Sheikh Qabbani expressed his gratitude for Humaidhi for having the old mosque, whose restoration works lasted more than three years, restored and enlarged on her own expense. Qabbani also thanked Kuwaiti Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Dr. Abdallah Al-Maatooq, who headed to Lebanon especially for participating in the inauguration ceremony of the mosque. Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri said, he is optimistic for the assistance given to Lebanon by Arab governments, establishments and individuals. "We, in Lebanon, quite know charitable Humaidhis and other generous families in Kuwait and we admit their good assistance to our country," he added. For his part, Matuq said that the generous donation of Humaidhi to restore the mosque mirrors the distinctive relations between Kuwaiti and Lebanese peoples at both official and popular levels. (end) bas.mo KUNA 042201 Jun 04NNNN