Saturday 20 October 2012

Before Waiting for Investigation, March 14 Accuse Syria of Achrafieh Blast


 
Local Editor
As soon as the blast in Achrafieh went off, Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblat were swift to accuse Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad of standing behind the assassination of General Wissam Al-Hasan.

Hariri said in a phone call on Future TV that he will not stay silent over this crime, stating that “Wissam Al-Hasan was a friend and a brother for late Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. He was a brother to all the Hariri family.”

“When the majority of the Lebanese gathered in “Martyrs’ Square” we faced them politically. We don’t own criminal security apparatuses like the opponent, which is the Syrian regime, does,” Jumlatt said.

In parallel, Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea considered that Al-Hasan was assassinated because he “arrested Michel Samaha”, adding that “our movement will not stop no matter what, and I will not say humanitarian words, I will rather say that we will continue… they are targeting all of us, today its Wissam Al-Hasan, later its someone else… but the movement will continue.”

March 14 alliance held an emergency meeting Friday night and issued a statement demanding Prime Minister Najib Miqati to resign.

“The government must leave and we call on Prime Minister Najib Miqati to resign immediately,” Secretary General of the Future party, Ahmad Hariri said.

“PM Najib Miqati is personally responsible for the blood of General Wissam Al-Hasan and the innocent victims,” he added.
Miqati
Miqati’s circles questioned the March 14 forces' accusations against him. “Miqati had long defended Hasan when he was being subject to the most vicious political campaigns,” they remarked. They revealed that “internal and external contacts are being held for him to take the appropriate stance”. His circles told al-Liwaa newspaper that the premier will call on all sides to reach an agreement over the formation of a national salvation government aimed at confronting the division in Lebanon.

Several analysts said that the March 14 coalition’s pressure against Miqati is aimed at calling the government to resign and achieve “their real goal of becoming part of the cabinet where it can assume security portfolios.”

Global Condemnations over Hasan Murder in Beirut
 
Local Editor
 
Friday's Achrafiyeh bomb map in Beirut; Oct. 19, 2012A deadly car bombing Friday targeted Chief of Information Department of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces, Wissam al-Hasan, leaving several other citizens killed and over 85 injured in Lebanese capital Beirut.
International community rushed to condemn the assassination attempt starting from the Vatican, the United Nations, the Arab League to major world countries.

The Vatican strongly condemned Friday's attack stating it was "contrary to efforts and commitments to maintaining peaceful coexistence in Lebanon," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said in a statement.
“It is to be hoped that this horrible event will not be an excuse for increased violence," Lombardi said. Instead, "Lebanon should represent, as the pope has said repeatedly, a message of peace and hope for its people and those of the entire region."

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Lebanon.

He called for a thorough investigation into the bombing and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
The UN Security Council also strongly condemned the car bomb explosion, calling it a "terrorist attack."

In Cairo, where the AL is headquartered, AL Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi condemned the terrorist bombing, saying "there are hands of evil trying to tamper with security and stability of Lebanon, pushing the country toward security slides and political divisions amid the Syrian crisis and the situation tense in the region."

He also called for all the political leaders of Lebanon to show restraint, and work together to capture the assailants.

European Union and leaders of other countries also joined condemnation of the bombing.
The Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi condemned the "coward terrorist act" and said that "such blasts are condemned whenever happened and there is nothing to justify them."

Lebanon: rubble fills the street after Friday's bombing in Beirut; Oct. 19, 2012Condoling with survivors and victims' families, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi called on the Lebanese people to stand united against what he called "enemy threats," according to local Press TV.
Also on Friday, the United States condemned what it called “the terrorist attack, noting that there is "no justification for using assassination as a political tool," the U.S. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement.

Describing Lebanon's security and stability as "vital" both for the Middle East country and its neighbors, Vietor pledged Washington's support for Lebanon's efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the attack.

In Paris, French President Francois Hollande, in a statement released by the Presidency office, condemned strongly the car bombing, reaffirming Paris' "commitment to the security, stability, independence and sovereignty of Lebanon."

The Lebanese government has set Saturday as a national day of mourning.

Hezbollah extended his condolences to the relatives of the victims of the attack and urged security and judicial departments to spare no effort to launch an immediate investigation to punish the assailants.

The powerful car bomb rocked a street adjacent to Sassine Square in Ashrafiyeh - North West capital Beirut, leaving Hasan and several other people dead and scores wounded, in the first such attack in the Lebanese capital since 2008. Reports said that the blast left around 11 people killed, among them Hasan.

Hezbollah Strongly Condemns Achrafieh Blast: It Targets Stability, Unity
 
River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this Blog!

No comments: