BEIRUT, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced Wednesday that Thursday, April 9, will be observed as a national day of mourning for the victims and injured in Israeli attacks that targeted hundreds of civilians.
All public administrations, institutions and municipalities will close, national flags will be lowered to half-staff, and radio and television broadcasts will be adjusted to reflect the national mourning, according to the prime minister.
He added that he remains in contact with Arab leaders and international officials to step up Lebanon's political and diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the Israeli attacks.
So far, the Israeli strike on Wednesday across Lebanon has killed at least 254 people and injured 1,165 others, with densely populated neighborhoods in the capital, Beirut, among the hardest hit, according to the latest data provided by the Lebanese Civil Defense. ■
