UN condemns rocket attack on Beirut suburbs

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon condemned on Monday a rocket attack that ripped through Beirut's southern suburbs. "I would like to take this opportunity to condemn on behalf of the United Nations the rocket attack on the suburbs of Beirut Sunday morning," Derek Plumbly said in press statements following talks with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati. Four people were wounded on Sunday morning in a rocket attack on Beirut's southern suburbs. "I expressed also appreciation for the efforts of the Lebanese army, the security authorities and the caretaker premier himself in trying to calm down and contain the security situation in Tripoli," he said. He voiced hope that the Lebanese security authorities "will soon identify those responsible for this criminal act. Plumbly said he discussed with Miqati means of keeping Lebanon safe from conflict along with the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. "The number of refugees is of course greatly in excess of the estimate when the appeal was made in January. We are working now with the government of Lebanon on a joint appeal for Lebanon to cover the next six months from June in order to meet the needs of the Syrian refugees," he said.