Bush vows support for Lebanon gov't after killing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Wednesday promised support for the Lebanese government after a car bombing in Beirut killed Lebanese lawmaker Walid Eido and nine other people.

Eido belonged to the majority anti-Syrian parliamentary bloc of Saad al-Hariri, which controls the government. Eido's son and two bodyguards were among those killed.

"There has been a clear pattern of assassinations and attempted assassinations in Lebanon since October 2004," Bush said. "Those working for a sovereign and democratic Lebanon have always been the ones targeted."

"The United States will continue to stand up for Lebanon, its people, and its legitimate government as they face these attacks," he added.

Eido was killed just three days after a U.N. Security Council resolution came into effect setting up an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, who was killed in 2005.

Bush said the tribunal must be allowed to do its work. He also called on Iran and Syria to stop trying to foment instability in Lebanon.