BEIRUT, Lebanon - The United States on Tuesday condemned a car bombing that targeted a US embassy vehicle in Lebanon, saying the attack was aimed at undermining the country's stability through murder and intimidation.

"The US embassy is outraged that there are still those who work to undermine Lebanon's stability through murder and intimidation," a statement from the embassy in Beirut said.

"The Lebanese people deserve to live in peace and security in an independent and united Lebanon," the statement added. "Crimes like the Dawra attack will not weaken the international partnership working to support and strengthen Lebanon's independence and democracy."

The attack in the Dawra area north of Beirut left three people dead and 21 injured, none of them American citizens, a senior Lebanese security official told AFP.

The embassy said that out of respect for the victims of the attack, US ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey Feltman had cancelled a farewell reception he was hosting in Beirut on Tuesday.

The attack came as Lebanon grapples with a long-running political crisis that has left the presidency vacant for nearly two months. -AFP