The White House on Monday strongly condemned the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and said those responsible for the murder must be punished.

"This is a despicable act, and it took many lives or many injured and a number of others. And we condemn it in the strongest possible terms," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a news briefing.

"The United States will consult with other governments in the region and on the Security Council today about measures that can be taken to punish those responsible for this terrorist attack, to end the use of violence and intimidation against the Lebanese people and to restore Lebanon's independence, sovereignty and democracy by freeing it from foreign occupation," McClellan said.

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed in a powerful explosion in central Beirut on Monday. The explosion, apparently caused by a car bomb, occurred around 1:00 p.m. (1100 GMT) when Hariri's motorcade of four black limousines escorted by jeeps was passing by in the seafront area of the capital.

Hariri died at American University Hospital, together with eight others.