Lahoud, al-Hariri and Obeid condemn the criminal aggression against UN headquarters in Baghdad

Lebanese President Emil Lahoud yesterday condemned "the criminal aggression against the UN headquarters in Baghdad," considering that " attacking representatives of the UN representatives and its headquarters and working in it negatively impact the attempt of the US to perform its main role to restoring back stability to Iraq and end the current status in it."

Lahoud expressed his hope that this aggression will not undermine the commitment of the international law to shoulder full responsibility to enable the Iraqi people in restoring back sovereignty and independence of its decision and various options regarding the future of its country.

In a telephone call, President Lahoud made assurances of the former Lebanese minister, Ghassan Salama, advisor of the UN Secretary General Special Representative in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello who was killed in the explosion.

For his part, the Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri considered that the explosion targets to undermine "international legitimacy and the ambition of the Iraqi people to reach a secure political future within the framework of the UN which represents the international will, altogether." Al-Hariri expressed regret and sadness of the Lebanese government "over the killing of De Mello.

Meantime, the Lebanese foreign minister Jean Obeid said that "Lebanon expressed deep sadness for the killing and wounding scores of civilians who were inside the headquarters, including Lebanese." He expressed his condolences to Annan over the killing of De Milo. Obeid also stressed the need of " returning back to international legitimacy and enhancing the role of the UN in Iraq."