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Annan urges Islamic nations to reject suicide bombings
Putrajaya (Malaysia), Oct 16: UN secretary-general Kofi Annan urged leaders of Islamic countries today to reject suicide bombings against Israel and help transform Iraq into a peaceful democracy.
Putrajaya (Malaysia), Oct 16: UN secretary-general Kofi Annan urged leaders of Islamic countries today to reject suicide bombings against Israel and help transform Iraq into a peaceful democracy.
Annan described the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory as harsh, with "disproportionate military force, destruction of houses and crops, unjust expropriation and closures, illegal settlements, and a fence being built on land that does not belong to the builders."
But he said suicide bombings damaged even the most legitimate cause and "must be condemned, and must be stopped". Annan was originally scheduled to speak today at the summit of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia's new administrative capital, but did not attend because events in Iraq and the middle east required that he remain at UN headquarters, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said.
Instead, his speech to the OIC leaders was read by Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN's special envoy to Afghanistan. The OIC leaders were expected to issue a strongly worded statement tomorrow condemning Israel's recent airstrike inside member country Syria, and its occupation of Palestinian territory.
Last year, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad failed to persuade the OIC's foreign ministers to define suicide attacks as terrorism. Other OIC members objected, saying the Palestinians had few other means to defend themselves against Israel's superior military might.
Annan also castigated Islamic nations for allowing Muslims to fall far behind their western counterparts. Bureau Report
But he said suicide bombings damaged even the most legitimate cause and "must be condemned, and must be stopped". Annan was originally scheduled to speak today at the summit of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia's new administrative capital, but did not attend because events in Iraq and the middle east required that he remain at UN headquarters, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said.
Instead, his speech to the OIC leaders was read by Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN's special envoy to Afghanistan. The OIC leaders were expected to issue a strongly worded statement tomorrow condemning Israel's recent airstrike inside member country Syria, and its occupation of Palestinian territory.
Last year, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad failed to persuade the OIC's foreign ministers to define suicide attacks as terrorism. Other OIC members objected, saying the Palestinians had few other means to defend themselves against Israel's superior military might.
Annan also castigated Islamic nations for allowing Muslims to fall far behind their western counterparts. Bureau Report