Lebanon's president urges Lebanese to protect country against civil strife

Lebanese President Michel Aoun called upon the Lebanese on Tuesday to protect the country from civil strife, which was the main goal of late prime minister Rafic Hariri, said a statement by the presidency.

"The ruling issued today by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon should be an occasion to recall the positions of the martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and his constant calls for unity and solidarity, and to join efforts in order to protect the country from any attempt aimed at stirring up civil strife," Aoun said.

The UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon found on Tuesday that Hezbollah member Salim Jamil Ayyash is guilty of being a co-perpetrator in committing a terrorist attack that killed Hariri intentionally.

Aoun expressed his hope that justice will be achieved in many of the similar crimes that have targeted leaders in Lebanon, whose absence from the Lebanese political scene left a great void.

(CGTN)