By Xinhua
Damascus : Syrian Foreign Minister Walidal-Muallem on Wednesday condemned the assassination of Lebanese Brigadier General Francois al-Hajj who died in a car bombing earlier.
“We strongly condemn this criminal act that claimed the life of the Director of Military Operations in the Lebanese Army, and we condemn every act that threatens the security and stability of Lebanon,” Muallem said in a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Hoshyar Zebari.
Muallem also expressed hope that the Lebanese people would fill the constitutional vacuum and elect a president through dialogue and consensus, and agree on means to solve the problems in Lebanon, affirming that “Lebanon’s security and stability is vital and important to Syria”.
Answering a question on the Syrian-French communication regarding the Lebanese presidential election, Muallem stated that such communications “are ongoing almost on daily basis, because Syria and France are keen on Lebanon’s stability.”
Syria and France “will continue encouraging all sides to adopt dialogue and consensus to elect a president as soon as possible,” he added.
Muallem also underlined the need for a Lebanese solution to the Lebanese problems without foreign interference in Lebanese affairs, stressing that this is what has been agreed upon with the French.
Al-Hajj was killed in a car explosion near a Christian town east of Beirut earlier Wednesday as the country is still embroiled in a battle between rival leaders over the presidency.