SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS JERUSALEM SUICIDE BOMBING,
URGES DECISIVE ACTION TO ARREST INSTIGATORS
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the suicide bombing today by a Palestinian militant group in Jerusalem, which killed 20 Israelis and injured dozens more.� He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the victims.� Today has been a tragic day for the United Nations family as well, and we share the grief felt for all victims.
The Secretary-General has made clear repeatedly that terrorist attacks are totally reprehensible.� He urges Palestinian Prime Minister Abbas to take decisive action to arrest the instigators of this attack and prevent such attacks from happening again.� The Secretary-General calls on the Government of Israel to act with restraint in the face of this provocation, and not contribute to a renewed cycle of violence and revenge.� The Secretary-General reaffirms his belief that security for both Israelis and Palestinians can best be achieved by the political process of conflict resolution called for in the “Road Map”.
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