International community rushed to condemn the assassination attempt starting from the Vatican, the United Nations, the Arab League to major world countries.
A deadly car bombing Friday targeted Chief of Information Department of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces, Wissam al-Hasan, leaving several other citizens killed and over 85 injured in Lebanese capital Beirut.
International community rushed to condemn the assassination attempt starting from the Vatican, the United Nations, the Arab League to major world countries.
The Vatican strongly condemned Friday's attack stating it was "contrary to efforts and commitments to maintaining peaceful coexistence in Lebanon," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said in a statement.
“It is to be hoped that this horrible event will not be an excuse for increased violence," Lombardi said. Instead, "Lebanon should represent, as the pope has said repeatedly, a message of peace and hope for its people and those of the entire region."
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Lebanon.
He called for a thorough investigation into the bombing and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
The UN Security Council also strongly condemned the car bomb explosion, calling it a "terrorist attack."
In Cairo, where the AL is headquartered, AL Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi condemned the terrorist bombing, saying "there are hands of evil trying to tamper with security and stability of Lebanon, pushing the country toward security slides and political divisions amid the Syrian crisis and the situation tense in the region."
He also called for all the political leaders of Lebanon to show restraint, and work together to capture the assailants.
European Union and leaders of other countries also joined condemnation of the bombing.
The Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi condemned the "coward terrorist act" and said that "such blasts are condemned whenever happened and there is nothing to justify them."
Condoling with survivors and victims' families, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi called on the Lebanese people to stand united against what he called "enemy threats," according to local Press TV.
"Undoubtedly, the main enemy of the Lebanese people and the region is the Zionist regime which benefits from instability and lack of security in the region," spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in a statement on the foreign ministry website Saturday.
Also on Friday, the United States condemned what it called “the terrorist attack, noting that there is "no justification for using assassination as a political tool," the U.S. National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement.
Describing Lebanon's security and stability as "vital" both for the Middle East country and its neighbors, Vietor pledged Washington's support for Lebanon's efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the attack.
In Paris, French President Francois Hollande, in a statement released by the Presidency office, condemned strongly the car bombing, reaffirming Paris' "commitment to the security, stability, independence and sovereignty of Lebanon."
The Lebanese government has set Saturday as a national day of mourning.
Hezbollah extended his condolences to the relatives of the victims of the attack and urged security and judicial departments to spare no effort to launch an immediate investigation to punish the assailants.
The powerful car bomb rocked a street adjacent to Sassine Square in Ashrafiyeh - North West capital Beirut, leaving Hasan and several other people dead and scores wounded, in the first such attack in the Lebanese capital since 2008. Reports said that the blast left around 11 people killed, among them Hasan.
