For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 14, 2005
Statement on Beirut Terrorist Attack
The President was shocked and angered to learn of the terrorist
attack in Beirut today that murdered former Prime Minister Hariri and
killed and injured several others. Mr. Hariri was a fervent supporter
of Lebanese independence, and worked tirelessly to rebuild a free,
independent, and prosperous Lebanon following its brutal civil war and
despite its continued foreign occupation. His murder is an attempt to
stifle these efforts to build an independent, sovereign Lebanon free of
foreign domination. The people of Lebanon deserve the freedom to
choose their leaders free of intimidation, terror, and foreign
occupation, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1559.
The United States will consult with other governments in the region and
on the Security Council today about measures that can be taken to
punish those responsible for this terrorist attack, to end the use of
violence and intimidation against the Lebanese people, and to restore
Lebanon's independence, sovereignty, and democracy by freeing it from
foreign occupation.
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