April 29, 11

NEWS / Security Council and Secretary-General deplore deadly bombing in Morocco

29 April 2011 – The Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon have both strongly condemned yesterday’s terrorist attack at a café in the Moroccan city of Marrakech that has killed at least 16 people and injured many others.

Media reports say a mixture of Moroccans and foreign nationals were among the victims of the bombing, which occurred yesterday morning at a café overlooking the city’s renowned Djemaa el-Fna square.

In a press statement read out today, Council members voiced their deep sympathy to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Morocco.

“Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” the statement noted, adding that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.”

The 15-member Council also stressed that all countries must ensure that any measures they take to combat terrorism meet their obligations under international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

For his part, Mr. Ban issued a statement through his spokesperson in which he underlined his “firm rejection of the use of indiscriminate violence against innocent civilians.”

The statement noted that “no political objective justifies or is served by such heinous acts.”

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38228&Cr=terrorism&Cr1=