Lebanon leaders urge to end political deadlock despite blast attack

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Premier-designate Tammam Salam condemned Tuesday the blast that rocked the Bir al-Abed neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, urging the Lebanese people to end their disputes. A blast rocked the Bir al-Abed neighborhood on Tuesday morning, and initial reports said that at least 50 people were wounded in the explosion that was caused by a booby-trapped vehicle. Suleiman said in a statement released by the presidential media office "the explosion should prompt officials to end their differences, return to dialogue, and commit to the Baabda Declaration." He added "the security of the people must be respected regardless of how great the political disputes get." He demanded that the security and judicial agencies intensify their efforts to uncover the perpetrators who are planting fear and terror among the people." Speaker Berri remarked that the attack is aimed at dividing the Lebanese people and he urged Lebanese to exercise vigilance to thwart the criminals' plans. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati said in a statement "the blast demonstrates that the criminals are bent on following through with their plan to destabilize Lebanon without distinguishing between one area and another." He said "the blast demands that the Lebanese end their differences in order to end the political and security deadlock." Mikati stressed "they should rise above petty disputes to reach an understanding that would ensure that Lebanon end its crisis" while calling them to make concessions for the sake of the country. PM-designate Tammam Salam condemned the attack, saying that it is aimed at destabilizing Lebanon and the security of its people. He called for exercising the "highest degrees of vigilance and national solidarity to thwart attempts to tamper with Lebanon's security, regardless of which side is behind them."