Gunmen attack Lebanese troops in Ersal

Foreign gunmen attacked a military post in Ersal town, northeast Lebanon, near the borders with Syria, and killed several soldiers and civilians on Saturday.
The attackers, believed to belong to Al-Nusra Front, a Syrian opposition group, took two soldiers hostage before being forced to set them free, the army command said in statement without specifying the number of casualties.
The attack followed the arrest of leading member of the group identified by the National News Agency (NNA) as Imad Ahmad Joumaa, at an army checkpoint in Ersal plains.
The military statement affirmed resolve to deal sternly with any attempt to destabilize Lebanon or bring in unrest from neighboring Syria.
Meanwhile, President Michel Suleiman discussed the arising unrest with Prime Minister Tamam Salam, Interior Minister Nuhad al-Mashnouq and Army Commander General Jean Kahwaji.
He vowed that anyone who attacks the army or security forces shall pay dearly.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri strongly condemned the attack as an act of aggression on Lebanon and its people, urging unity against terrorism.
Berri discussed the attack and the security situation over the phone with General Kahwaji.
Speaking to reporters, he paid tribute to "the martyrs who fell today within the military and civilian ranks.
"We pray for God's healing for the wounded, and call on all the Lebanese to stand united behind their army and security forces, for our unity is our sole fortification in confronting terrorism," NNA quoted Berri as saying.
"We condemn any attack against the army and security forces while executing their on-ground security tasks in any location within the State, and view such an aggression as being against all of Lebanon and the Lebanese," added Berri. On a similar note, Leader of the Future Parliamentary Bloc and former prime minister Fuad Siniora expressed full support to the army and Internal Security Forces in their efforts to maintain stability in the country.
"It is not allowed that any party could take up weapons against the Lebanese legitimate forces or undermine the authority of the state," Siniora said.
He called for immediate withdrawal of armed Syrians from Lebanese territories, particularly Ersal.
He also called for immediate withdrawal of the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters from fighting in Syria.