Thursday, February 26, 2009

Security Council condemns deadly attack on African Union base in Somalia

The United Nations today condemned in the strongest terms the suicide attack on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) base in Mogadishu, which caused the deaths of 11 Burundian peacekeepers and injured 17 others on Sunday.

“The members of the Security Council express their condolences to the families of the victims, to the people and the Government of Burundi, and to the African Union,” Ambassador Yukio Takasu of Japan, which holds the Council Presidency for the month, said in a press statement.

“The members of the Council reiterate their condemnation of all acts of violence and incitement to violence against AMISOM” following reports of further attacks yesterday, he added.
The 15-member body reiterated its commitment to supporting a strengthened AMISOM, which it said played a vital role in helping to bring peace and security to Somalia, and commended the Governments of Uganda and Burundi for their contributions.

In its statement, the Council applauded the ongoing political process in Somalia that led to the expansion of Parliament and the election of a new president, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, who has made taken steps to “strengthen the political process and improve security.”

Mr. Takasu said that “the members of the Security Council call on all Somalis to reject violence and extremism, to embrace peaceful means of resolving conflicts, and to support the government towards this goal,” stressing the body’s “determination to combat all forms of terrorism.”

Source: UN News Centre

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