Lahoud we will not permit security violations

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud asserted during his meeting on Monday in Beirut with the commander of the Lebanese Army, General Michel Sleiman, the importance of not permitting any security violation and to strongly deal with such attempts.

The Lebanese President also held a similar meeting with Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss during which latest developments and security violation acts were reviewed.

A presidential statement released in Beirut on Monday read: "Lahoud and al-Hoss commended the performance of the Lebanese security forces in settling the incident of the Russian embassy within less than one hour."

The incident which targeted the Russian embassy resulted in the death of the shooter, who has been identified as Ahmad Rajaa Abu Kharroub, and of a Lebanese policeman, wounding of other three.

The charge de affairs at the Russian embassy said that three of the bombs went off in the embassy's square, but no human casualties were reported.

The presidential statement added that Lahoud and al-Hoss also discussed the operation currently being carried out in al-Dinnieh district in northern Lebanon, where confrontations have been continuous for four days between the Lebanese Army and gunmen.

On Monday 21 military men from the Lebanese Army, civilians and gunmen were killed. They include 11 gunmen, three hostages out of other 9 hostages seized by the gunmen, including a Lebanese army officer who was considered missing.