SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST LEBANESE LAWMAKER

SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST LEBANESE LAWMAKER
New York, Sep 20 2007 7:00PM
The Security Council today strongly condemned yesterday's terrorist attack in the Lebanese capital Beirut that killed at least seven people, including the parliamentarian Antoine Ghanem.

In a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2007/sc9125.doc.htm">presidential statement read out by Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert of France, which holds the rotating presidency this month, the Council expressed its deepest sympathies to the victims' families, as well as to the people and Government of Lebanon.

The 15-member body reiterated its condemnation of all targeted assassinations of the country's leaders that have taken place, including those since October 2004, and appealed for an end to the use of intimidation and violence against representatives of the Lebanese people and institutions.

Any attempt to destabilize the country, such as through these targeted attacks, must not be allowed to impede or subvert Lebanon's constitutional process, Mr. Ripert said.

He said Council members called for the holding of free and fair presidential elections "in conformity with Lebanese constitutional norms and schedules and without any foreign interference."

The statement also commended "the determination and the commitment of the Government of Lebanon to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this and other assassinations."

Yesterday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a <"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/sgsm11167.doc.htm">statement that he was "shocked by the brutal assassination" of Mr. Ghanem.

"Such acts of terrorism aim at undermining Lebanon's stability and are unacceptable," his statement said. "Lebanon has suffered far too many such attempts."

Mr. Ban urged all Lebanese to show "calm and restraint at this very critical time and to allow judicial procedures to take their course" and stressed the need for continued dialogue within the country.
2007-09-20 00:00:00.000

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