Secretary-General condemns murder of Russian Federation Baghdad

diplomat, kidnapping of 4 others

 

The following statement was issued by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Saturday, 3 June:

The Secretary-General condemns the murder today in Baghdad of a Russian diplomat and the kidnapping of four other Russian diplomats.  He offers his condolences to the family of the Russian diplomat and to the people and Government of the Russian Federation.  He calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the four kidnapped diplomats.

The Secretary-General deplores this attack and calls for the cessation of all such acts of violence.  He also calls on the Iraqi Government and the Multinational Force (MNF) to take all necessary measures to counter the present wave of violence.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record