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US condemns assassination of general in Lebanon
AFP, December
12, 2007
WASHINGTON, Dec
12, 2007 (AFP) - The United States on Wednesday issued a
firm condemnation of the killing of a top Lebanese army
officer, as Lebanon seeks to fill a presidential void.
In Beirut, an
army spokesman told AFP that Brigadier General Francois
El-Hajj, head of military operations, and his bodyguard were
killed in the blast in the Lebanese capital.
"We strongly
condemn the assassination of Brig. Gen. Francois Hajj,"
National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in
a statement.
"This is a
crucial time as Lebanon seeks to maintain a democratically
elected government and select a new president. President
(George W.) Bush will continue to stand with the Lebanese
people as they counter those who attempt to undermine their
security and freedom," the spokesman added.
Lebanon has
been without a president since November 23 when incumbent
Emile Lahoud ended his term with rival parties unable to
agree on a successor.
State
Department spokesman Sean McCormack read a statement
denouncing the blast as "another vicious and cowardly attack
against Lebanon and its constitutional institutions,"
following a stream of political assassinations.
"The
international community has called for the Lebanese to hold
without delay free and fair presidential elections in
conformity with Lebanese constitutional rules without
foreign interference or influence," it said.
The statement
commended Prime Minister Fuad Siniora's "legitimate and
democratically-elected government" and Lebanese armed forces
for their roles in managing affairs of state and security
until the presidential election occurs.
Officials said
Hajj, 54, was targeted as he was tipped to replace as army
chief General Michel Sleiman, the frontrunner to become the
next president but whose election has been blocked by a
standoff between pro- and anti-Syrian camps.
McCormack said
he did not know who might be responsible for the bombing.
He said it was
"positive" that Syria, which Washington has blamed for past
assassinations, had denounced the bombing because it means
officials are speaking out against "the use of violence as a
political tool."
But he added
that the Syrian government still had to show it was
committed to turning a new leaf.
"And it's not
entirely clear at this point that Syria, as a government, is
committed to turning away from the use of violence to gain
political leverage and advantage in the region," he said.
"And certainly,
it has not turned away from supporting those groups which
have sworn to use violence and terror to undermine progress,
to bring about a more stable, prosperous and democratic
Middle East," McCormack said.
Washington
welcomed Syria's participation in a US-sponsored
international conference in Annapolis, Maryland last month
to launch the first serious Palestinian-Israeli negotiations
in seven years. |
