Berri condemns Damascus attack on top Syrian officials

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned Thursday the Damascus explosion that targeted Syria’s top officials, warning that the campaign aimed at dividing the country was intensifying. “Day after day the ferocious campaign to punish sisterly Syria for its historical resistance escalates; it reached its peak [Thursday] with a terrorist explosion,” Berri said in a statement. A suicide bombing in Damascus claimed the lives of President Bashar Assad’s brother-in-law, his defense minister and a former defense minister, and wounded a number of other security officials Wednesday. The attack was claimed by both the rebel Free Syrian Army and an Islamist group. The suicide bomber was a bodyguard of a member of Assad’s inner circle, reported Reuters, quoting a Syrian security source. Berri, a longtime ally of Syria in Lebanon, said the explosion was intended to deliver a blow to the core of the country’s leadership in a bid to dismantle “the Syrian Arab Army” which he said was the “guarantor of the country's unity and stability.” He added that the attack was part of a bigger plan “to achieve the objective of dividing Syria and scrapping its Arab and regional role as well as its support for the struggle of the Palestinian people.” While President Michel Sleiman denounced Wednesday’s bombing in Damascus, which is widely considered the boldest attack in the 16-month revolt against Assad’s regime, spontaneous celebrations broke out in several parts of Lebanon including Sidon and Tripoli. “I offer our condolences to sisterly Syria, its president, government, parliament, army and people for the death of the martyrs,” Berri said, voicing confidence that Syria would overcome the crisis and build a better future via dialogue.