DAMASCUS, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Syria on Tuesday strongly denounced the assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel who was shot dead on a street in the suburb of Beirut, the official SANA news agency reported.

    "This horrible crime is aimed at destabilizing solidity and civil security in Lebanon," an official media source was quoted as saying.

    The source also underlined "Syria's keenness on Lebanon's security and the unity of his sons as well as keeping Lebanon's civil peace", SANA said.

    The 34-year-old Gemayel was a Christian leader in Lebanon and son of former president Amin Gemayel. He was a supporter of the anti-Syrian parliament majority.