AFP, August 16, 2005 BEIRUT -- The Lebanese economy is showing signs of recovery six months after the assassination of ex-premier and construction tycoon Rafiq Al Hariri and the ensuing political crisis that shook the country, analysts say. Hariri had spearheaded Lebanon's post-war economic revitalization and his death in a February bomb blast on the Beirut seafront delivered a fresh blow to an economy already battered by a long-running civil war that ended in 1990. "The disappearance of a man whose name had been linked since 1992 to the reconstruction of Lebanon, which was emerging from 15 years of destruction and war, had a negative psychological impact on investment, production and consumption, although that impact only lasted a limited time," said analyst Marwan Barakat of Audi Bank. The five-time prime minister's sudden death led to political upheaval, international pressure for change in Lebanon and the eventual April withdrawal of Syrian troops after a presence of nearly three decades. However analysts say damaging economic consequences of the turmoil have been lessened by a smooth political transition and promises of reform by a newly elected parliament. "Despite negative indicators in the first half of 2005 compared to those of the preceding year, the Lebanese economy has emerged with relatively limited damage in light of the tragedy," Barakat said.