Lebanese Politician Killed by Syrian Kidnappers

Protesters close Lebanon's main highway at the entrance of the city of Byblos, north of Beirut, after receiving news that Pascal Sleiman, the local coordinator of the Christian Lebanese Forces political party, was killed by Syrian kidnappers.

Syrian kidnappers killed a Lebanese local political official belonging to a party that opposes the powerful Hezbollah movement, Lebanon's army said, in a case that shook the country.

Pascal Sleiman was local coordinator in the Jbeil (Byblos) area, north of Beirut, for the Christian Lebanese Forces party that opposes Damascus and its ally Hezbollah -- which has been exchanging near-daily cross-border fire with Israel since Israel began fighting Hamas militants in Gaza six months ago.

Sleiman's abduction sparked outrage in his Jbeil district, where hundreds of supporters blocked roads after news of his death erupted.

Lebanese security forces have arrested seven Syrians on suspicion of involvement in the murder of a local politician, a judicial official said, amid a backlash against Syrian refugees.

Pascal Sleiman was the coordinator in the Byblos area, north of Beirut, for the Lebanese Forces (LF), a Christian party which opposes the Syrian government and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

The LF said it would consider Sleiman's murder a "political assassination until proven otherwise", although the army said the politician had been killed for his car.

"The kidnappers admitted that their goal was stealing the victim's car," the official added.

"We emphasized that the security forces and the Lebanese general security strictly enforce Lebanese laws on Syrian refugees," Bassam Mawlawi, Lebanese Interior Minister said.

"This country cannot withstand more problems than it already has, the country cannot withstand sectarian strife. We call on all Lebanese to be rational and to rely on the work of the security forces and the work of the judiciary," he added.