UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned those behind a resurgence of violence in Lebanon and urged a return to dialogue to repair the sharp divisions in the country, his press office said.Ban “strongly condemns those responsible for the violence in Lebanon over the last week and urges calm and restraint and an immediate stop to the violence,” the statement said.

“He calls on all parties to resume the national dialogue. Lebanon needs a political process which will result in the election of a President and a solution to the prolonged political crisis.” Ban expressed “his solidarity with the people and government of Lebanon, and other legitimate Lebanese institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces,” and his support for Arab League efforts to broker a compromise.—AFP