By Xinhua
Cairo : The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) and the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday denounced a bomb attack which killed Chief of Lebanese Operations Brigadier General Francois al-Hajj and three others, Egypt’s official MENA news agency reported.
Offering condolences to the families of the victims, AL Secretary General Amr Moussa stressed the importance of protecting Lebanon’s national unity.
Moussa urged Lebanese political leaders to shoulder their responsibility in the current crisis, hoping such incident would not spoil efforts exerted to reach a consensus on the presidential elections in the country.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Wednesday also voiced his sorrow over the terrorist explosion that killed al-Hajjin the eastern Beirut suburb of Baabda.
Abul Gheit expressed his concern that the terrorist attack may negatively affect the Lebanese presidential elections and further deteriorate the political and security situation in the country.
The car bomb explosion on Wednesday shattered al-Hajj’s car as it drove in Baabda, the historic capital of Mount Lebanon province, and seat of the presidential palace, which is on another hill.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency reported that four people were killed and tens of others injured in the explosion, which occurred before 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) on Wednesday.
The senior army officer was killed as his country is still embroiled in a battle between rival leaders over the presidential election.