UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has condemned the murder of a former Lebanese communist party chief, and called for unity and stability in that country, UN spokeswoman Marie Okabe said Tuesday.

In a statement issued by the spokeswoman, Annan said he was appalled to learn of in Lebanon another assassination of George Hawi, a long-time leader of the Communist Party, in a bomb blast in Beirut.

"His sympathies and condolences are with the family of the victim and, indeed, all of the people of Lebanon," Okabe said. " The Secretary-General stands with the Lebanese today in their determination to shape a peaceful, independent and sovereign future."

Annan also urged the Lebanese authorities to bring promptly to justice the perpetrators and the instigators of the callous crime and to put an end to impunity and acts of intimidation, the spokeswoman noted.

"He calls on all concerned parties to contribute to the unity and stability in Lebanon," she said.

Source: Xinhua