Lebanon: UN officials condemn latest deadly blast to strike Beirut suburb

21 January 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the United Nations envoy to Lebanon have condemned today’s explosion in a southern Beirut suburb that killed and wounded a number of people, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

“The recurrent acts of terrorism and violence in Lebanon are totally unacceptable,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement.

“The Secretary-General calls on all Lebanese parties to come together in support of their State institutions, particularly the security forces, and to strive for national unity as the best safeguard of Lebanon’s security and stability in the face of terrorism,” the spokesperson added.

The car bombing, which is the second to strike the suburb of Haret Hreik this month, is “a further deeply disturbing act of indiscriminate terror,” said a statement issued by the office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Derek Plumbly.

“Such acts cannot be justified, and are contrary to the interests of all Lebanese,” said the statement, which added that those responsible for today’s attack and all other acts of terrorism must be brought to justice as soon as possible.

The Special Coordinator called on all Lebanese to come together, and encouraged all steps that help reinforce national unity at this difficult time, including the recent momentum to form a new Government.