A massive car bomb in Beirut killed former Lebanese minister Mohamad Chatah, an opponent of the Assad regime in Syria, along with five other people; many others were wounded in the explosion. President Sleiman deplored the “terrorist crime” that killed a “moderate, pro-dialogue” leader. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Chatah a “voice for tolerance, diversity, and moderation.” Former prime minister Saad al-Hariri blamed Hezbollah for Chatah’s death; Hezbollah condemned the assassination as a “heinous” crime that was part of an effort to destabilize Lebanon, and urged authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.
