Lebanon condemns assassination of Hezbollah official

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman condemned Wednesday the assassination of a Hezbollah official, saying that it is part of an Israel's plot against Lebanon.

 Suleiman said "the assassination is a new chapter in Israel's attempts to create sectarian strife and target civil peace," according to a statement by the presidential media office.

 Hezbollah official Hajj Hassan Hollo al-Laqqis was assassinated overnight Wednesday near his residence in Hadath in the Lebanese capital of Beirut's southern suburbs while he was on the way back from work, said a statement released by Hezbollah.

 Hezbollah accused Israel of carrying out the assassination, revealing that Laqqis "was targeted several times in several areas but the previous assassination attempts failed."

 Suleiman called on Lebanese people to remain diligent and "be aware of the attempts to create strife" in the country, reiterating the need to distance Lebanon from "the disputes of others in order to maintain peace and stability."

 Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati urged that efforts should be intensified to uncover the assailants.