SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ‘CALLOUS TERRORIST ATTACK’ IN LEBANON, APPEALS

FOR NATIONAL UNITY IN FACE OF ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE STABILITY

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General condemns the callous terrorist attack on innocent civilians that took place this morning in Lebanon.  He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Lebanon.

This crime comes the day before the second anniversary of the attack that took the life of former Premier Rafik Hariri and 22 others, which itself preceded a string of assassinations and terrorist actions in Lebanon.

The United Nations strongly rejects attempts to secure political objectives through violence and the killing of innocent civilians.  The Secretary-General stresses that there must be an end to impunity and appeals to all Lebanese to maintain national unity in the face of such attempts to undermine the country’s stability.

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For information media • not an official record