The United States views the assassination of Lebanese Christian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel as an "act of terrorism," a senior US official said today.
"This is a very sad day for Lebanon. We were shocked by this assassination. We view it as an act of terrorism and we also view it as an act of intimidation," U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said of the assassination.
Burns said all nations should rally around the embattled government of Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to oppose those who were trying to divide Lebanon.
"We think it is very, very important that those who would divide Lebanon and use violence to destabilise the political situation not be able to succeed," Burns said.
"We will give full support to the Siniora government in the days and weeks ahead, to support that government, to support its continuation."
The United States has in recent weeks raised the alarm over the increased threat of assassination of Lebanon's political leaders and called for international support for Siniora.
Gemayel's killing is certain to deepen a political crisis pitting the Lebanese government's anti-Syrian majority against the pro-Damascus opposition led by Hezbollah, which fought a five-week war with Israel in July and August.