SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS SRI LANKA SUICIDE BOMBING, SAYS ESCALATING VIOLENCE COULD ENDANGER FRAGILE PEACE PROCESS

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS SRI LANKA SUICIDE BOMBING, SAYS

ESCALATING VIOLENCE COULD ENDANGER FRAGILE PEACE PROCESS

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

The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s atrocious suicide bombing at a military installation in Colombo that claimed the lives of several army personnel and civilians, and seriously wounded the Head of Sri Lanka’s army, Lt. General Sarath Fonseka.  He reiterates that no cause can justify such acts of violence and expresses his condolences to the families of the bereaved and the Government of Sri Lanka.

The Secretary-General is disturbed by the rapidly escalating violence on the island, as seen in a vicious cycle of attacks and retaliations that appears to seriously endanger the fragile peace process.  He would like to again stress that a return to civil war will not resolve outstanding differences between the parties.  He calls on the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to summon the political will to resume their dialogue under the facilitation of the Norwegian Government.

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For information media • not an official record