Brussels, 20/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - In the evening of 19 November, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, firmly condemned the terrorist attack in the south of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, close to the Iranian embassy that day. According to her spokesperson, Ashton is appalled by this attack, which is said to have killed at least 23 people and injured 146 others, including members of the Embassy staff. Reaffirming that the use of violence against civilians is unacceptable, Ashton called for a swift enquiry to bring those guilty for this attack to justice. She called on all the different parties to help facilitate enquiries and to fully cooperate with the Lebanese authorities.
Ashton sent condolences to the family and friends of victims and expressed sympathy with the Lebanese people. Once again, she underlined the need for all the Lebanese people to help to maintain peace and security in the country and reiterated the EU's “continued support” for Lebanon and its commitment to the country's unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
France, Germany and the United Kingdom, and other countries have condemned this attack, which has been claimed by the Abdallah Azzam Brigades, a jihadi group close to Al Qaeda. (CG/transl.fl)