BEIRUT:
Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry offered its condolences Friday to Italy over
a powerful earthquake two days earlier that caused more than 200
deaths. “The ministry extends its condolences to the leadership
and people of Italy, who lost many innocent lives to a deadly
earthquake,” the statement said.

“We stand by the Italian people in this difficult time,” it added. On Wednesday, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Italy, killing at least 268 people and injuring many others. Speaker
of Parliament Nabih Berri and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party
Walid Jumblatt also sent their condolences to the victims of the
earthquake. Jumblatt sent a message to Italy’s PM Matteo Renzi to
express “feelings of unity and empathy with the Italian people and the
families of the victims in these hard times.”

Berri, meanwhile,
sent his representative MP Ali Bazzi to the Italian embassy to express
sympathy as well, the National News Agency said.