Secretary-General shocked by killing of member of United Nations Haiti mission,

Urges demonstrators to refrain from further violence

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General learned with shock of the violent killing of one member of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) on Saturday, 12 April 2008.

The Secretary-General expresses his sincere condolences to the officer’s family, the Nigerian contingent and the Government of Nigeria.

The Secretary-General reiterates his appeal for calm and urges all demonstrators to refrain from any further acts of violence.  He emphasizes that peace and stability constitute essential conditions for social and economic development, as well as to promote investments and job creation, which, together with the immediate measures announced by the Haitian authorities, constitute the best ways, in the medium term, to fight against the increase in the cost of living.

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For information media • not an official record