"France reiterates its commitment, and that of the international community, to the stability of Lebanon, particularly during the election period which is underway," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Lebanese leaders were also all outraged:
Opposition leader Walid Jumblatt blamed the tragedy on "remnants of Lebanese security services affiliated to Syria under the direct sponsorship of President Lahoud." He continued to demand the resignation of the pro-Syrian president, "to be able to establish a free, democratic and sovereign Lebanon."

Michel Aoun, an opposition leader who was announcing his list of candidates for the upcoming parliamentary elections in central Lebanon, began the news conference with a moment of silence, describing Kassir as "one of the great journalists who never hesitated or was afraid to say the truth and defend Lebanon."

Jibran Tueni, general manager of the An-Nahar paper, who won a seat in Beirut's polls last Sunday, said at the scene: "(Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad should not be allowed to have a single intelligence operative lingering in Lebanon," . He further reiterated: "The Syrian regime is responsible from head to toe for this horrific terrorist crime. Lebanon's opposition should promptly close ranks anew to have every Syrian intelligence cell left behind in Lebanon ruthlessly smashed."

Saad Hariri released a statement calling Kassir's murder a "terrorist crime" and vowing to spare no effort to track down the assassins with "the same zest that I am struggling to uncover my father's killers."

"Syria's terrorism is still active in Lebanon," said columnist Nassir Asaad on Hariri's Future-TV network. "Syria's secret service is still entrenched in Lebanon."

Samir Kassir , in his last column that appeared in An-Nahar's front page on Friday, lambasted Syria's lack of desire to enact rapid change, saying "reform for the (ruling) Baathists does not mean accepting opposing views."

Lahoud condemned the killing, saying it targeted the unity of the Lebanese people, and visited the headquarters of Lebanon's journalists' union to pay his respects. He called an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss security. He also met with the head of the Lebanese Press Syndicate Mohammed Baalbaki and head of the Reporter's Syndicate Melhem Karam in Beirut,to express his outrage at the incident. Lebanese opposition blame Lahoud and the Syrians.

Meanwhile, President Lahoud has been quoted as telling a French newspaper that he would not resign his post even if all 128 members of the new parliament demanded his departure. "I am not going to leave no matter what. They have to count on that," Lahoud said in an interview with Le Figaro.

Lahoud did not feel compelled to visit Hariri's grave, blaming "Israelis and Islamist fundamentalists" for the assassination.

Following the interview, Baabda released the following statement: "The Presidential Press Office denies that the President has given an interview to [Le Figaro] newspaper."

Here are more pictures of the explosion courtesy of AP:

A colleague of slain reporter Samir Kassir, lays a Lebanese flag on his office chair at Al Nahar Newspaper

Full coverage from Ya Libnan:
* So who murdered Samir Kassir?
* Lebanon protests another murder: Pictures from Martyrs' Square
* Lebanese Journalists pay tribute to murdered colleague
* Lebanon's murdered journalist: An open letter to the Lebanese
* Vigil held to honor slain journalist in Beirut
* France & Lebanon outraged for assassination of Lebanese Journalist
* Tragedy strikes again in Beirut
* Journalist targeted and killed in Beirut explosion
* Opposition blames Lahoud and Syria for latest assassination
* Anti-Syrian journalist murdered in Beirut
* Photographs of Samir Kassir's tragic crime scene

Sources: Ya Libnan, Al Nahar, AP ,Reuters