Attack on Hariri condemned
 | |
| |
|  VIDEO |
 Blast apparently targets former PM Rafik Hariri. CNN's Brent Sadler reports. (February 14)
|
|
BEIRUT, Lebanon -- The death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has drawn worldwide condemnation. Here is a selection of comments as reported by CNN, The Associated Press and Reuters:
"He was a man of peace, a great friend. He was a man who, after 20 years of war in Lebanon, managed to rebuild it." Javier Solana, European Union foreign policy chief
"France strongly condemns this crime ... (and) calls for an international inquiry to be held without delay to determine the circumstances of, and responsibility for, this tragedy, before punishing the culprits." Statement by French President Jacques Chirac, a close friend of Hariri
In a written statement, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said: "We state our unequivocal condemnation of this act of terrorism and we call on all parties to maintain calm at this difficult moment and to avoid any further violence." Rice called for the "immediate implementation of (U.N. Security Council) Resolution 1559, including the withdrawal of all Syrian forces; the disbanding and disarmament of all militias and an end to foreign interference in the political independence of Lebanon. Lebanese people must be free to exercise their political choices without intimidation or the threat of violence."
"The loss of Prime Minister Hariri was a great loss for Lebanon. He played a very important role in the reconstruction of the country, and he was a prominent figure, not only on the Lebanese scene but on the regional scene. If we fall into divisions and confrontations, we would have done what the terrorists want us to do. What we will do is to maintain our cohesion." " Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Farid Abboud.
"I have only one word which is to condemn, in most extreme words, this criminal act (against) my friend Rafik Hariri, a very excellent prime minister of Lebanon." Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos
A spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, in a written statement, said Annan expressed "sadness and shock" and considers the attack "a reversion to a chapter in Lebanon's history that he had hoped was long past." "It is imperative that the already fragile situation in the region should not be further destabilized," the spokesman said, adding that Annan "urges all Lebanese to exercise utmost restraint, and to use peaceful means in support of their national aspiration to full sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity."
"What happened today in Lebanon is a big crime. We condemn this crime. It's against Lebanon and its people and against the stability of Lebanon which we respect and which we hope that Lebanon will be in a better condition in the future. The stability of Lebanon is very important for us as Palestinians and we hope that the Lebanese people will understand that we feel with them and we hope that (in) the future nothing will happen like that." Palestinian Authority spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh
"Hezbollah strongly condemns this criminal act and calls for uncovering the culprits and their objectives." Statement issued by Lebanese militant group Hezbollah
"It is a very sad moment that we lose Rafik Hariri, a great leader and Lebanese politician, a first-class politician. He was always in the forefront of defending the Arab rights and to establish healthy relations between the Arab world and the rest of the world. Our loss is great and the situation is grave. The terrorist attack that killed (former) prime minister Hariri is one of those despicable acts that threatens the unity of Lebanon, threatens the situation in the region as a whole. ... I'm worried about the directions of this criminal act, the repercussions in Lebanon and in the Arab world and in the Middle East in general." Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa
"Syria's government and people declare that they stand by (the) brotherly (nation) Lebanon in these dangerous situations and extend the warmest condolences to the families of Rafik Hariri and the (other) victims." Syrian President Bashar Assad
"We condemn all those who are trying to create a turmoil in Lebanon, our brother Lebanon. We hope that the Lebanese people will remain united and strong in these critical moments, denouncing any internal strife and rejecting any foreign intervention." Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shar'a
"A well-organized terrorist organization such as the Zionist regime has the capability of such an operation. The aim or the objective of this terrorist act was to damage the unity of Lebanon." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi
"Any assassination is an assassination. It's cold, it's terrible. I'm against any capital punishment. Only the Lord has the right to take away life because he's the giver of life. And assassination stands against democracy, against civilization, against a civilized life of people. Alas, the situation in Lebanon is very chaotic and many innocent people lost their lives because they have a state within a state, an army within an army and the respect for life is not high enough." Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia categorically rejects such terrorist acts that target the lives of innocent people and create chaos and destruction." Statement by Saudi Arabia's Cabinet
"The Jordanian government strongly denounces the heinous crime. ... This terrorist action targets brotherly Lebanon's security and stability and that of the region." Jordanian government spokeswoman Asma Khader
"The targeting of (former) Prime Minister Hariri in view of what is happening in the region indicates the gravity of the situation in Lebanon." Statement by Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, Lebanon's senior Shiite cleric
Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
