OIC Chief Condemns Bombings Near Iran Embassy In Beirut

Tehran, Nov 21, IRNA -- Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu condemned the Tuesday terrorist attacks on the Iranian embassy in Beirut which left 23 people killed, including cultural attache Ebrahim Ansari. Ihsanoglu condoled with the families of the victims of terrorist attack, and said, “This ugly terrorist act which threatens the peace, security and stability of Lebanon, specially under the present conditions, is the cause of concern of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC).” The two bomb blasts killed 23 people and injured 146 others on Tuesday. The attack targeted just 10 meters away from Iranian embassy in Beirut’s Southern neighborhood of Jinah, inflicting much damage to the compound. The main gate of the Iranian Embassy was blown out by the first explosion, and the second blast happened just meters away from the embassy. A Lebanese government source said Ansari was entering the embassy as the blasts took place, adding that the Iranian official died of his wounds at a Beirut hospital. Head of the Iranian Embassy’s security team and five of his men have also been among more than two dozen people killed in the twin blasts which struck an area near the embassy compound in Beirut Tuesday morning./end