Sri Lanka Suicide Attacks Condemned

Ban Ki-Moon Condemns Suicide Attacks in Sri Lanka

New York, Nov 28 2007 6:00PM

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced outrage at today’s twin suicide attacks in the Sri Lankan capital, which have killed or wounded dozens of people, and yesterday’s aerial assault on a United Nations aid office in the far north of the troubled country.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban condemned the attacks in Colombo, which occurred outside the Ministry of Social Services building and in the Nugegoda district, and offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Media reports state that at least 16 people were killed in the Nugegoda blast and 37 others were injured, while one person was killed and two others hurt in the earlier bombing at the ministry building.

The statement from Mr. Ban’s spokesperson noted that he was also concerned about yesterday’s aerial attack in the town of Kilinochchi in which the office of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) was damaged.

“The Secretary-General appeals for an end to the destructive spiral of violence in Sri Lanka and calls on the parties to the conflict [Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)] to return to the peace process while making every effort to ensure the protection of civilians,” the statement said.

ENDS

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