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Tehran condemns Friday terrorist attack in Beirut

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Oct 20, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi condemned here on Friday, the terrorist attack in Beirut which resulted the death of at least eight people including a senior security official.

Salehi has offered his condolences to the Lebanese nation and government in a telephone conversation with his Lebanese counterpart Adnan Mansour.

He emphasized that the enemies seek to increase insecurity in the region and achieve their ill intentions.

The Iranian foreign minister underlined the importance of unity among all groups and their vigilance vis-a-vis the current sensitive situation.

Mansour, for his part, thanked Salehi and stressed the importance of consultations between the two countries with the purpose of consolidating regional stability and security.

Lebanon’s resistance movement Hezbollah has also condemned the deadly car bomb attack in the capital, which killed at least eight people and injured scores of others.

Hezbollah also called on the Lebanese people to stand united and urged an investigation into the Friday explosion. The Syrian government has also issued a statement condemning the terrorist attack as a 'cowardly' move.

A deadly car bomb blast in Beirut's eastern Ashrafiya district killed at least eight people, injured scores of others, and damaged buildings.

The intelligence chief of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces, General Wissam al-Hassan, was also among those killed in the blast. Lebanese protesters took to the streets shortly after the explosion to condemn Hassan's assassination.

The blast was the first major bomb attack in Beirut since 2008. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the government was trying to identify the perpetrators and that they would be punished.

Lebanese protesters took to the streets shortly after the explosion to condemn Hassan's assassination.

The explosion occurred in Beirut's eastern Ashrafiya district, which is a predominantly Christian district, and near the headquarters of the the Phalange, a Maronite Christian party, during the rush-hour as parents were picking up their children from school.

Several buildings were damaged and many cars were set on fire as a result of the blast.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Friday about the effect of the Syrian civil war on the neighboring states, including Lebanon.

'I am deeply concerned by the impact of the Syrian crisis on Lebanon,' Ban Ki-moon said in a report on Thursday.

'Largely as a result of the deteriorating situation in Syria, Lebanon has witnessed cross-border clashes and shelling,' he added.

Iran is doing its best to help the resolution of the Syrian crisis. Senior Advisor to the Iranian Parliament Speaker Hossein Sheikholeslam said on Thursday that despite some problems, civil war in Syria is close to a ceasefire, , adding that most of the Syrian opposition groups have accepted Iran's proposal for a truce.

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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80377866