SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘VERY DISTURBED’ BY REPORTS OF VIOLENCE IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN; CONDEMNS TERRORISM TARGETING INNOCENT CIVILIANS, PLACES OF WORSHIP

SECRETARY-GENERAL ‘VERY DISTURBED’ BY REPORTS OF VIOLENCE IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN;

CONDEMNS TERRORISM TARGETING INNOCENT CIVILIANS, PLACES OF WORSHIP

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is very disturbed by the reports of violence in Karachi, Pakistan, in the last two days, including the murder of a religious leader on Sunday, the bombing in a mosque on Monday and the disturbances that took place today during funeral processions for those killed in Monday’s attack.

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms terrorist acts that target innocent civilians and places of worship, as well as attempts to sow sectarian discord and strife.  He hopes that the necessary steps will be taken to protect innocent lives and calls for inter-communal partnerships to foil the policy of hate and violence.

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