Today's Date:

Communiqué issued by M. Bernard Kouchner, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs

I am deeply shocked at this latest attack in Beirut which has claimed the lives of lawmaker Antoine Ghanem and at least four other people, and injured many others.

I offer my condolences to the victims’ families and loved ones, and to the Lebanese government, parliament and people.

I condemn this heinous and cowardly crime in the strongest terms. The perpetrators must be found and punished.

The death of Antoine Ghanem, who was also a French citizen, touches me all the more because I had welcomed him to La Celle Saint-Cloud where he represented President Amin Gemayel, to whom I send my deepest sympathy in these painful circumstances.

France, along with the international community, stands at Lebanon’s side in the face of the repeated attempts to destabilize it and this policy of terror. Those who inspire them must know that they will not achieve their aim.

With the approach of the important date of the presidential election, now is the time more than ever for all Lebanese to rally. Political dialogue, to which Antoine Ghanem had contributed, is still the only way out of this crisis.

France will continue its efforts to this end and firmly maintain its policy of promoting the unity, stability and independence of Lebanon./.