The UN Security Council condemned Thursday all forms of terrorism after a a terrorist explosion targeted Dahyieh, Beirut's southern suburbs, on Thursday, leading to the martyrdom of at least 4 civilians and injuring dozens others.

It further urged the Lebanese to preserve national unity and stick to the dissociation policy.

"Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed," the Security Council said.

In its statement, which echoed the call for justice, the Council appealed to all Lebanese people to "preserve national unity in the face of attempts to undermine the country's stability and stressed the importance for all Lebanese parties to respect Lebanon's policy of disassociation and to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis."

For its part, Iran strongly condemned the terrorist act of explosion and expressed sympathy with victimsˈ families and injured people.

According to the report of Foreign Ministry website on Thursday evening, Marziyeh Afkham said that resisting people of Lebanon along with their wise leaders have always prevented the plots of the Zionist regime and they will do the same this time, too.

Meanwhile, US condemned the terrorist bombing, reiterating its call for the implementation of Lebanon's policy of dissociation and urging all parties to refrain from retaliation.

A statement issued by State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf on Thursday, said the US condemned "in the strongest terms" the "terrorist bombing in the Haret Hreik region."

She reiterated Washington's "support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces as legitimate government institutions that protect and serve all Lebanese."

Damascus also denounced the bombing and said that the fight against terrorism was an international responsibility.

"Syria strongly condemns the terrorist explosion in Beirut's southern suburbs today and considers it an act of terrorism," Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said.

"The war on terror is the duty of all nations of the world and the perpetrators must be punished, as should organizations supporting terrorism."

In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry said: "France supports Lebanese authorities in their determination to fight all forms of terrorism as well as their commitment to fighting impunity."

British Foreign Office Minister Hugh Robertson released a statement condemning the blast, adding that the UK government was "fully committed to supporting the future stability of Lebanon."

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly denounced the bombing and "the indiscriminate nature" of such attacks, according to a statement.

"It is deeply distressing to have to condemn yet another appalling act of terrorism, the latest in the number which have killed and injured so many innocent people in this country," he added.

Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Araby offered his condolences to the families of the bombing victims and asserted the league's "full support" for Lebanon and for its security and stability.

On the internal level, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman offered his condolences to the victims of the blast, accused the perpetrators of planting "criminality and murder and destruction in all Lebanese areas."

He called on security forces to intensify investigations in order to find the culprits and stressed the need for unity and dialogue between political powers.

Similarly, House Speaker Nabih Berri said the car bombing in Haret Hreik was part of the "series of conspiracies targeting Lebanon and its national unity."

He also said he believed those behind the attack were also responsible for last week's assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammad Shatah.

"This crime is aimed at terrorizing citizens, misleading and creating the impression that there are many hands committing the crimes," he added.

Meanwhile, Walid Jumblatt, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, called on individuals to rally together and not exercise exclusion "because the act of excluding the other and accusing him will increase acts of terrorism left and right."

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said a "fire was burning" in more than one area in Lebanon and it would spread if the Lebanese did not stand together, "away from the language of defiance and unilateralism and exclusion."

Mikati also said that the explosion proved that terrorism "does not distinguish between Lebanese" and does not want stability.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said that the bombing was "a new episode in a series targeting civil peace."

He said the response to the crime should be marked by awareness and wisdom by "raising the level of vigilance and working honestly, despite major political differences."

Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil said terrorism targeted all areas and all individuals in order to create sectarian strife among them.

"At this moment the repeated and only call is to hold onto national unity, which can save us from some of these explosions and security challenges we are facing," Hasan Khalil said outside Beirut's Bahman Hospital, where many of those wounded by the explosion were being treated.

Head of the Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun said there was a deliberate attempt at silencing the language of reason and inciting strife.

"Everyone is targeted, and has been placed in a position of self-defense," Aoun said.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai also denounced the blast, and called on both sides of the political spectrum to engage in dialogue and take "bold steps and assume responsibility to spare Lebanon more tragedy and loss."

Former Prime Minister Salim al-Hoss denounced the blast and called on all Lebanese politicians from across the political spectrum to maintain a language of reason "in order to preserve the interests of the country and to disallow whoever wants to incite strife the chance to do so."

Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan also condemned the blast, adding that it was time the country realized the seriousness of "the conspiracy which is targeting all Lebanese - with no exceptions."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team