Ban Condemns Deadly Attack on Egyptian Tour Bus in Sinai

Ban Condemns Deadly Attack on Egyptian Tour Bus in Sinai

New York, Feb 16 2014 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned today's terrorist attack on a bus in the southern Sinai town of Taba, which reportedly killed four people and wounded many others.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson in New York, Mr. Ban condemned the deadly attack which reportedly killed four people including three tourists from the Republic of Korea, and wounded dozens of other people.

"He conveys his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Governments of Egypt and the Republic of Korea. He calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice," the statement adds.

Egypt has witnessed considerable violence since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak three years ago following mass protests. Last July, renewed protests, in which dozens of people were killed and wounded, led to the military deposing President Mohamed Morsy and the setting up of an interim government. A new constitution was adopted in a referendum last month.

In early August 2013, the Secretary-General strongly condemned an ambush in the Sinai of Egyptian police officers, following earlier reports of dozens of prisoners killed while in police custody.

At least 25 police officers were killed when two mini-buses were ambushed in the incident. That attack followed reports of 36 prisoners in police custody killed as they were being transferred from one facility to another.

At that time, a spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) echoed the UN chief's condemnation of the ambush and expressed the Office's grave concern about insecurity in the Sinai region.

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

ENDS

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