Kerry denounces killing of former Lebanese minister

US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday condemned the assassination of a former Lebanese cabinet minister, calling it a "terrorist attack." "On behalf of President (Barack) Obama and the United States, I condemn in the strongest possible terms today's abhorrent terrorist attack and assassination of former Lebanese cabinet minister Mohammad Shatah in Beirut," the top American envoy said in a statement. "This is a terrible loss for Lebanon, the Lebanese people and for the United States," he added. Shatah, former Lebanese finance minister and adviser to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, was killed in a booby trapped car explosion as his convoy was passing through downtown Beirut, Lebanon's capital. Four others, including Shatah's body guard, were killed in the blast and 15 people were injured. Kerry, who met Shatah when he was a U.S. senator, voiced support for efforts in Lebanon to bring those responsible to justice, saying "Such actions cannot be allowed to take place with impunity." Beirut has been hit by several deadly attacks over the past months, including twin suicide bombings in November that targeted the Iranian embassy. The raging war in neighboring Syria has deeply divided the Lebanese and triggered political tensions and sectarian clashes in the country.