Brussels, 28/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign affairs ministers have condemned the car bomb on Friday 25 January in Beirut. The attack cost the life of a senior Lebanese intelligence official, Wissam Eid. According to the conclusions adopted on Monday 28 January, they also condemned the attack aimed at UN forces (Finul) on 8 January and that on the following week against the vehicle of a US diplomat, which killed three. An increase in violence echoes the political impasse in the country.
Ministers hope that Lebanese democratic institutions will work better and they welcomed their counterparts in the Arab League's adoption on 6 January in Cairo of a crisis-exit plan. They are calling on all parties to rapidly implement this plan. They are reiterating their support for the legitimate and democratic government of Fouad Siniora, as well as the Lebanese armed forces and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, unity and stability of the country. The EU27 is also concerned by the fact that since the end of Emile Lahoud's mandate on 24 November 2007, there has been no head of state in Lebanon and are disappointed by the many postponements of this election that is now planned for 11 February. On Sunday 27 January, EU foreign affairs ministers from the Arab League called on the Lebanese government and opposition to reach an agreement on electing a new president during the next session of the Parliament, in an effort to get the country out of the impasse.
Demonstrations were organised on Sunday in Beirut to protest against chronic electricity cuts, which degenerated into clashes that killed 7 and injured scores of people in several Shia neighbourhoods in the Lebanese capital. In an effort to stem the violence, which raises fears of another civil war between supporters of the anti-Syrian government in parliament and the opposition, close to Damascus and Tehran, security measures were bolstered on Monday as the country observed yet another day's mourning. (A.B.)