UNSC deplores Islamabad bombing

{image-islamabad blast_23092008.jpg news.oneindia.in}United Nations, Sep 23: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has strongly condemned the weekend's terrorist attack in Islamabad, which claimed dozens of lives and injured many others.

At least 40 people were killed when a bomb rocked the Marriott Hotel, with foreign diplomats among the casualties. The Council, in a presidential statement read out yesterday by Ambassador Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, expressed ''its deep sympathy and condolences to the victims of this heinous act of terrorism and to their families, and to the people and Government of Pakistan.'' The 15-member body stressed the importance of bringing those behind the bombing to justice, calling on all states to cooperate with Pakistani authorities.

''The Council reaffirms that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,'' according to the statement.

On Saturday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deplored the attack, saying, ''No cause can justify the indiscriminate targeting of civilians.''

UNI