The March 14 forces condemned on Friday the assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, saying that his murderer is “known to all Lebanese.”

Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora said: “We demand that his assassination be referred to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi and Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani condemned on Friday the assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, hoping that peace would be restored in Lebanon.

Al-Rahi said in a statement: “With his assassination, Lebanon lost a bright face of understanding and moderation.”

The International community condemned on Friday the “cowardly” assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah in a car bombing in Beirut, describing him as a “wise” and “tolerant” man.

“Sad news from Beirut,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said via twitter.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned on Friday the assassination of his adviser Mohammed Shatah, saying that Lebanon lost moderate figure who believed in peace and an independent Lebanon.

He said in a statement: “Shatah's murderers are the same ones who assassinated former Premier Rafik Hariri.”

Customs at Rafik Hariri International Airport thwarted on Friday an attempt to smuggle 6 kilograms of cocaine to Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency reported.

NNA said the customs agents arrested a 57-year-old Brazilian woman, who had arrived to Beirut from Brazil via Ethiopia.

Senior officials denounced on Friday the assassination of former Finance Minsiter and adviser of ex-PM Saad Hariri, Mohammed Shatah, and several others in an explosion in Starco area in downtown Beirut.

President Michel Suleiman stressed that the “the coward crime will only make the Lebanese more determined to preserve their country.”

The assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum on Friday as officials and politicians mourned the loss of a “moderate” voice.

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat described Shatah as a stateman, saying he has always been characterized by adopting the "language of dialogue and moderation."

A heavy explosion that rocked the capital Beirut on Friday targeted the convoy of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, who is ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri's adviser.

Shatah's vehicle license was located in the area of the blast.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.1 struck north the capital Beirut and Mount Lebanon early Friday morning.

Lebanon's state-run Bhannes Center for Seismic and Scientific Research said that “a 3.1 magnitude earthquake was felt by Beirut residents at 2:40 a.m.”

A delegations from al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc Christian lawmakers will head on a trip to several countries to address the conditions of Christians in war-torn Syria amid the dangers confronting them.

Al-Mustaqbal MP Atef Majdalani said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper on Friday that the decision was taken by the bloc and will be implemented as soon as possible.