Syria condemns assassination of Lebanese minister

Syria, Jordan and the US today condemned the assassination of a prominent anti-Syrian Lebanese politician.

Syria called the shooting of Pierre Gemayel a “despicable crime.”

Gemayel, the Lebanese industry minister, was shot to death by a gunman in a Beirut suburb.

He was the fifth anti-Syrian figure in Lebanon to be killed in the past two years.

Many Lebanese have accused Damascus of being behind the slayings, a claim Syria has denied.

The Syrian state news agency SANA denounced the assassination, quoting an anonymous Syrian official.

“This despicable crime aims to destroy stability and peace in Lebanon,” the statement quoted the official as saying, affirming Syria’s keenness on Lebanon’s stability, security and unity, and to sustain its civil peace.

The US State Department denounced the assassination as an act of terrorism intended to intimidate.

“We are shocked by this assassination,” Under-secretary of State Nicholas Burns told reporters.

He said the United States also views it as an act of intimidation against Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s ruling coalition in Lebanon.

“We believe it is the responsibility of all countries to support the Siniora government,” Burns added.

Recalling past assassinations of members of the Gemayel family, Burns said the family has played a very important role in the history of Lebanon and “has suffered too much tragedy as a family.”

He said it is very important that those who would use violence to divide Lebanon not be allowed to succeed.

“We will give full support to the Siniora government in the days and weeks ahead,” Burns said.

A statement from Jordan’s king King Abdullah II condemned the ‘heinous assassination’.