SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS JERUSALEM SUICIDE BOMBING, URGES DECISIVE ACTION TO ARREST INSTIGATORS

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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