Source: Agencies, 14-02-2008
A number of Lebanese leaders and parties denounced Imad Moghnieh's assassination and offered condolences to Hizbullah. Representatives from leftist, Islamist, and national opposition parties paid their condolences to Hizbullah officials, at a mourning service held in Beirut's southern suburbs.
Parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri said the killing was another challenge that Lebanon is destined to face since the 2005 assassination of his father, former Premier Rafik Hariri. Hariri said the war with "Israel" in the summer of 2006 was one of these.
"The Lebanese people must unite in the face of such challenges," he added.
Hariri offered his condolences to Hizbullah's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora also offered his condolences to the resistance chief.
The US backed 'March (Feb.) 14' Forces issued a statement, condemning the murder.
"Lebanon is a target for multi-source terrorism which does not distinguish between one party and another," the 'March (Feb.) 14' statement said.
Lebanon's Sunni mufti, Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, also condemned the killing and urged the Lebanese to unite, saying: "Political differences between Lebanese parties will lead to chaos and eventually serve 'Israel'."
Top Shiite cleric Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah issued a statement Wednesday saying that "the resistance has lost one of its pillars."
Another Shiite cleric close to Hizbullah urged the group to avenge Moghnieh's murder.
"An eye for an eye ... a person for a person and a leader for a leader," Sheikh Afif Nabulsi said on Hizbullah's Al-Manar television on Wednesday.
The head of the Higher Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan, said "the resistance will miss Moghnieh's will, courage, and sacrifices."
"You will continue to be a hero and your fellows in the resistance will follow your steps and fight 'Israel' to the very end," Qabalan added.
Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal movement, a major ally of Hizbullah, said Moghnieh was one of the resistance's founders.
"The martyr played a major role in liberating Lebanon from 'Israeli' occupation and achieving victory in the 2006 summer war against 'Israel'," Amal said.
Former Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss also condemned the assassination, saying: "The killing will not affect the resistance's solid will to fight 'Israel'."
The Islamic Labor Front, led by Sunni cleric Fathi Yakan, offered condolences to Hizbullah's leadership and said "the resistance will indeed miss one of its leaders," and added: "This leader is Imad Moghnieh, who had a major contribution in Hizbullah's 2006 victory over 'Israel'."
Former President Emile Lahoud said Moghnieh's murder would only encourage the resistance to continue its struggle against "Israel".
"The murder is an 'Israeli' reaction to its 2006 defeat in Lebanon," Lahoud said, referring to the July-August 2006 war between "Israel" and Lebanon.
Resigned Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh also condemned the assassination, accusing "'Israel' and its agents.
"This murder proves that 'Israel' is Lebanon's real enemy," Salloukh added.
"By killing resistance leaders, 'Israel' is clearly admitting its vulnerability toward the resistance," he said.
Sultan Abu al-Ainain, representative of the Palestinian Fatah faction in Lebanon, condemned the assassination, praising Moghnieh's deeds and struggle against "Israeli" occupation.
"In his early years as a fighter, Moghnieh was part of Fatah. He is one of the heroes who faced 'Israel's' invasion of Lebanon in 1982," Abu al-Ainain said.