A day after the murder of MP Gebran Tueni, international figures reiterated their condemnation of the crime and gave the Lebanese government and people full backing. "France is ready to back any demand from the Lebanese government for an inquiry into the killing of anti-Syrian deputy and journalist Gebran Tueni," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on Tuesday. "I wish to stress France's resolute commitment at the side of the Lebanese authorities for full light to be shed [on this] hateful crime," Douste-Blazy told a news conference. "We will back Lebanon's demands within the international community," he said.U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in brief remarks, reiterated her condemnation and called Tueni and his newspaper, An-Nahar, symbols of a free press. "The Lebanese people know that the U.S. is behind them. The United States will remain steadfast in its support of the Lebanese people and the international community should so as well," Rice said.