UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni
Photo: AP
Scene of assassination
Photo: Reuters
French President Jacques Chirac
Photo: Reuters
Syria 'strongly condemns' Gemayel's killing
Immediate suspect in murder of Lebanese minister, Syria, issues statement condemning 'despicable crime.' US calls assassination 'act of terrorism.' Foreign Minister Livni slams Syria's 'negative role' in Lebanon
Shortly after Lebanese Minister Pierre Gemayel was assassinated Tuesday, anti-Syrian officials in Beirut pointed the finger at Syria, claiming it was to blame for the killing.
Damascus, however, issued a statement saying it condemns the murder: "This despicable crime aims to destroy stability and peace in Lebanon," a statement issued by the Syrian state news agency SANA quoted an official as saying, affirming Syria's keenness on Lebanon's stability, security and unity, and to sustain its civil peace.
Lebanon Killing
Christian Minister Pierre Gemayel, outspoken critic of Syria, shot and killed by gunmen near Beirut
The United States has also denounced the assassination. US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said: "This is a very sad day for Lebanon. We were shocked by this assassination. We view it as an act of terrorism and we also view it as an act of intimidation."
"We think it is very, very important that those who would divide Lebanon and use violence to destabilize the political situation not be able to succeed," he added.
"We will give full support to the Siniora government in the days and weeks ahead, to support that government, to support its continuation," Burns concluded.
Livni slams Syrian involvement in Lebanon
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni also referred to the killing during her visit to London, and said that, "The news from Lebanon is another example of the kind of region, the kind of neighborhood we are living (in). This isanother support for what I tried to explain before: this is between moderates and extremists."
"The negative role of Syria in Lebanon is not something new or top secret and only a few weeks ago the international community succeeded in taking Syrian forces and Syria out of Lebanon. But clearly they are trying to be involved even now, but it's too early to say something more concrete," Livni stated.
Jordan has also slammed the "ugly crime," and King Abdullah stated: "This is a cowardly act that targets the security and stability of Lebanon. The Lebanese have to unify their ranks at this phase and not allow the preachers of death, disunity and destruction to succeed in creating a split in the cohesion of the Lebanese people."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak urged Lebanese on Tuesday to seek dialogue and put aside differences "in order not to lose Lebanon" following the assassination. "We are for any initiative that leads to peace in Lebanon," Mubarak said in Libya, where he is attending a conference.
Murder stirs concern in Europe
French President Jacques Chirac stated that, "In the name of France, he condemns this heinous attack most strongly and expresses the wish that the assassins should be pursued and punished.""It (France) stands alongside Lebanon in support of the full implementation of the Security Council resolutions, notably for the creation of an international court (to try Hariri killers)," he added.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana said: "Those responsible for this cowardly attack from another age must be found and tried. Lebanon has yet again paid dearly for wanting to live peacefully and independently."
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said that the UK denounces the assassination.
"We are dismayed. There are enough problems in Lebanon already and we hope very much that whatever lies behind this, that it is a one off," she said.
"All I would simply to say whoever is behind it is that it is absolutely against the interests of every single person in the region to have maintenance of tension to have an increase in tension. This is deeply damaging and cannot be of help and assistance to anyone," Becket said.
