BEIRUT
The attack on former Finance Minister Mohamad Chatah has further escalated the tension in Lebanon, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said after attending the Higher Defence Council meeting at the Presidential Palace in Beirut.
Saying that "the fire in Syria has spread to Lebanon", Mikati stressed that Lebanon must follow a neutral policy regarding the Syrian crisis.
"The assassination of Chatah constitutes a new blow on the relative stability in the region, and shows that the plans for escalating the tension in Lebanon have been successful," Mikati said, and underlined that a new government must be formed as soon as possible.
Mikati also stated that the latest terrorist attacks would be referred to special tribunals with the decree of President Michel Sleiman.
Six people including Chatah died and 70 others were injured when a blast struck central Beirut while Chatah's convoy was passing by on Friday. Chatah was finance minister in former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's cabinet and also political adviser to him.
In another attack last month, 24 people were killed and scores wounded when a deadly blast targeted the Iranian Embassy in Beirut.
In August, at least 83 people were killed in two blasts in southern Beirut.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
