By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : The UN Security Council and Secretary-General Ban-Ki-moon have strongly condemned the terrorist bombing of the US embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, and urged the Yemeni government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a statement to the press Wednesday, the council president, Burkina Faso, said the council condemned “in the strongest terms” the terrorist attack which left 16 people dead, including six Yemeni guards and many civilians. No Americans were reported killed.
The council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this “reprehensible” act of terrorism to justice, commended the commitment of the Yemeni government to this end and urged all states to cooperate actively with the Yemeni authorities in this regard.
It further stressed that all acts of terrorism are “criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation,” and reaffirmed the need to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
It reminded states, however, that the measures they take to combat terrorism comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights.
Deputy spokesperson Marie Okabe told the daily press briefing that Ban also “strongly condemned” the attack. “Attacks on diplomatic facilities and personnel worldwide are against international law and are totally unacceptable,” she said, adding that the Secretary-General calls on the Yemeni authorities to spare no effort in bringing those responsible to justice.
The Islamic Jihad in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack.
US Ambassador Rose Marie Di Carlo told reporters she was pleased the council acted so quickly in condemning these attacks and in reiterating their determination to combat all forms of terrorism. “We are still compiling information on what has happened … We are getting excellent cooperation from the Yemeni government in dealing with this issue and in providing additional security,” Di Carlo added.