SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF LEBANESE JOURNALIST, SAYS SUCH CALLOUS ACTS 'PATTERN OF ONSLAUGHT' AGAINST LEBANESE, DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF LEBANESE JOURNALIST, SAYS

SUCH CALLOUS ACTS ‘PATTERN OF ONSLAUGHT’ AGAINST LEBANESE, DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

The following statement was issued by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sunday, 25 September:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s attempted assassination of May Chidiac, a prominent and respected Lebanese journalist.  He expresses his deeply felt sympathies to Ms. Chidiac and her family and wishes her a speedy recovery.

The Secretary-General believes that the international community should not tolerate such terrorist attacks.  Such callous acts now form a pattern of onslaught not only against Lebanese citizens but also against the principles of a democratic, open society, which, most importantly, includes the freedom of the press.

The Secretary-General calls on the Lebanese Government to bring to justice the perpetrators and instigators of today’s and other attacks and to ensure an end to impunity.  He calls on all parties in Lebanon to preserve national unity during these critical days.

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For information media • not an official record