Venezuela condemns bomb attacks in Beirut

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Wednesday condemned the twin deadly bombings near the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed nearly two dozen people and injured 146 others, according to an official communique. Maduro conveyed his "sincerest condolences and brotherly solidarity with the governments of Lebanon and Iran, especially to the families of the fatal victims and the injured." He also condemned the irresponsible conduct, saying it was an action that has turned into pain and suffering for the common citizens in the conflict-ridden region. In the communique, Maduro reiterated his country's deep-rooted friendship with Lebanon, and hoped that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. Two bombs on Tuesday went off near the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, killing 23 people, including the Iranian cultural counselor, in apparent retaliation for the Lebanese group Hezbollah's support of the Syrian government. A Lebanese al-Qaida-linked group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they would continue until Hezbollah withdraws its forces from Syria.