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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Global outrage over Ghanem assassination |
| 2007-09-21 |
| World leaders announced their outrage at the slaying of an anti-Syrian Lebanese lawmaker in Beirut, and pointedly tied the attack to meddling by the Assad regime in Damascus. Britain, France, Greece, Italy, Russia, and the United Nations Security Council also sharply denounced the car bombing that killed Mr Antoine Ghanem, while plunging deeply divided Lebanon into further chaos days ahead of crucial elections. The European Union also condemned the killing as a 'contemptible act', but urged the Lebanese government to go ahead with a hotly contested Sept 25 presidential contest. At the White House, U.S. President George W Bush made the following statement: "I strongly condemn today's horrific assassination of Lebanese Member of Parliament Antoine Ghanem. I extend my personal condolences to his family and the families of the innocent persons who were murdered alongside him in Beirut.British Foreign Secretary David Miliband condemned what it saw as a 'ruthless attempt to destabilise Lebanon' before critical Sept 25 elections to pick a successor to Syria-backed President Emile Lahoud. "A targeted attack" President Nicolas Sarkozy of France which, with the United States, has led international efforts to curb Syrian influence in Lebanon, expressed personal 'sadness and anger' at what he described as a 'targeted attack'. 'All light must be shed on the circumstances of this heinous crime and its perpetrators must be brought to justice,' said Mr Sarkozy, who, like Washington, linked it to other high-profile assassinations of anti-Syrian Lebanese leaders. Mr Ghanem, a member of the Phalange party of former president Amin Gemayel, was the eighth member of the ruling anti-Syrian majority to be assassinated since the 2005 murder of former billionaire prime minister Rafik Hariri. Mr Ghanem's death has reduced the anti-Syrian majority in Parliament to 68 members out of the now 127-member house, amid a near-complete deadlock between the Western-backed ruling majority and the pro-Damascus opposition. The European Union also condemned the killing as a 'contemptible act', but urged the Lebanese government to go ahead with its presidential election. 'These attacks should by no means obstruct the process of electing the new president and the process of reform that lies ahead of Lebanon,' EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner in a statement. In Rome, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo d'Alema denounced what he called a 'terrorist attack' and a 'barbaric act' aimed at 'destabilising Lebanese political life at a particularly delicate time'. After speaking by telephone to Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Mr d'Alema said in a statement that he hoped the attack would 'reinforce everyone's will to isolate extremists and encourage political players to find a national consensus through a peaceful and democratic dialogue'. Syria also condemned the attack, which left five others dead and dozens wounded in a Christian neighborhood of Beirut, as a 'criminal act' aimed at undermining Lebanese-Syrian relations. 'The organizers and perpetrators must be found and punished,' said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin, who also called on Lebanese leaders 'to use restraint and pursue dialogue'. Greece called Lebanon a 'friend' and said it backed Beirut's democratic institutions and national sovereignty, while condemning the attack as a 'terrorist' act. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 Israeli medias report Ghanem is number eight anti-Syrian pol-leader to die. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-09-21 23:44 |
| #3 World leaders, take out A$$ad if you are outraged at his meddling in your country's affairs and with assassinations in Lebanon. Quit pussy-footing around and turn up the heat on him and other tin horn dictators. Show them what targeted assassination is about. Unfortunately, world leaders seem to have a guild mentality that makes their trade a closed shop. They demonstrate a hands-off attitude towards the globe's political elite just like how skunks will not spray each other in a fight. This repugnance over condemning others within their ranks is the most base form of self-interest. Especially so in those who lead free nations and it represents a direct betrayal of the people they lead. A prime example is Ahmadinejad being allowed—not just to set foot on American soil—but to address a university audience. This is in absolute defiance of our national security and compromises our image abroad. Giving even a shred of dignity or credibility to Ahmadinejad legitimizes his support of Islamic terrorism and Iran's proxy war upon America's foreign interests. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-09-21 23:37 |
| #2 I don't feel any particular outrage. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-09-21 10:41 |
| #1 Suggestion: World leaders, take out A$$ad if you are outraged at his meddling in your country's affairs and with assassinations in Lebanon. Quit pussy-footing around and turn up the heat on him and other tin horn dictators. Show them what targeted assassination is about. A$$ad's a flaming A$$hole or at least he should be flaming a##hole if you get my drift. Please, someone with a spine take care of this worthless piece of drek. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-09-21 09:35 |