Connelly, U.N. Condemn Bir al-Abed Bombing, Rejects Violence in Lebanon

The United States and United Nations condemned on Tuesday the bombing in the Bir al-Abed neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, voicing their rejection of such violent acts in Lebanon.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly “strongly” condemned the attack, calling on all parties to “exercise calm, constraint and respect for the country's security and stability.”

She urged the Lebanese government to conduct a “thorough investigation into the incident,” renewing her country's commitment to a “stable and independent Lebanon.”

Later on Tuesday, United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly also strongly condemned the Dahieh blast, conveying “his deep sympathies to those injured in the explosion” and wishing them a speedy recovery.

“Such cowardly acts of violence aim at destabilizing the country and spreading fear among the population and are completely unacceptable,” he said in a statement.

“Lebanon’s leaders and political parties should rally together against such threats to their country’s security and stability and work to reinforce the role of Lebanon’s state institutions,” he stressed.

He hoped that the incident will be thoroughly investigated and that the perpetrators brought to justice as soon as possible.

At least 50 people were wounded in the explosion that was caused by a booby-trapped vehicle.

Lebanese politicians from across the spectrum quickly condemned the blast, including President Michel Suleiman.

Officially neutral in Syria's conflict, Lebanon is deeply divided into pro- and anti-President Bashar Assad camps.

Hizbullah and its allies back Assad, who adheres to the Alawite offshoot of Shiite Islam, while the Sunni-led opposition supports rebels seeking his ouster.