Security Council Condemns Aridi Killing
The U.N. Security Council on Thursday joined Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in condemning the car bombing that killed Druze politician Saleh Aridi.
"I condemn yesterday”s car bombing and urge restraint," the U.N. chief told a press conference. "This violence only underscores how important it is for dialogue and reconciliation to move forward."
The U.N. Security Council also "condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack" which killed Saleh Aridi, a member of Lebanon”s opposition Democratic Party, and injured six others in a car bomb blast in his hometown of Baisour, southeast of Beirut.
In a statement read by Burkina Faso”s U.N. Ambassador Michel Kafando, who chairs the 15-member body this month, council members underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the bombing to justice.
Aridi”s violent death came as Lebanon”s political parties prepared for a national dialogue next week aimed at reconciling their differences, which in May brought the country close to civil war.
The national dialogue due to begin next Tuesday is set to focus on forming a "national defense strategy" in which the relationship between militias and the army in defending the country is to be defined.