SG/SM/8175
 28 March 2002

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS MURDER OF TWO INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS NEAR HEBRON

NEW YORK, 27 March (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokes- man for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the deaths of two members of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) who were killed yesterday near the town of Hebron in the West Bank. The two international observers from Switzerland and Turkey were serving the cause of peace in the Middle East. Their untimely deaths underline the urgency of reaching a durable ceasefire and moving towards a political solution.

The Secretary-General condemns this act of violence in the strongest possible terms. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the Governments of Switzerland and Turkey and to the families of the victims of this attack.

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