Lebanese Diplomat Decries Poor Security

A Lebanese diplomat vowed to leave South Africa after gunmen tried to rob his country’s embassy for the second time in a week.

“I have had enough. It is a shame for South Africa to not protect its embassies,” Charge d’Affaires Charbel Stephan said Monday.

Stephan was hospitalized overnight Sunday for minor injuries received during the second attempted robbery.

Two gunmen and three other men forced their way into the embassy in Pretoria late Sunday night. They kicked the diplomat in the chin when he said no money was kept in the embassy.

The charge d’affaires said his nephew, Mansour Stephan, was closing the gate after seeing off guests Sunday night when a man held a gun to his temple, forcing him to let them into the embassy.