SG/SM/8172
 26 March 2002

SECRETARY-GENERAL 'STRONGLY CONDEMNS' ATTACK ON CHURCH IN GOMA, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

NEW YORK, 25 March (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokes- man for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is deeply shocked to learn the tragic news of the grenade attack on the congregation of a Catholic church in the town of Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, yesterday, which has reportedly left three people dead and many more injured.

The Secretary-General strongly condemns this attack, which has compounded the grief and sorrow of the population of Goma, who has only recently suffered the deadly eruption of Mount Nyiragongo.

The Secretary-General calls for an expeditious investigation into this incident, and commends the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) for the assistance provided to the victims of the attack by providing transportation to the injured to medical facilities in Kigali as well as in Goma.

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