stationed military troops from Lebanon. A constitutional change that allowed a pro-Syrian government to remain in Lebanon last year triggered international criticism. "Yesterday's bombing calls into question the stated reason behind this presence of Syrian forces, that is, Lebanon's internal security," Boucher said. "We believe the Lebanese people must be free to express their political preferences and choose their own representatives without intimidation or the threat of violence." Syria has argued that its troops are necessary to maintain stability in Lebanon. Boucher charged that Syria remains in contravention of a U.N. resolution demanding that it leave Lebanon, and that Damascus continued to support international terrorist groups and allow its territory to be used as a platform for the "Iraqi insurgency" and for "the Iranian regime". "We again call upon the Syrian government to take positive action on all these matters," Boucher said. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday issued a statement "unequivocally condemning" the terrorist bomb and calling on the "Lebanese government to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous terrorist act". The council warned the killing of Hariri might have the potential of further destabilizing the situation in Lebanon. ---SP 2336 Local Time 2036 GMT
