SC/8463
28 July 2005

Security Council, in Presidential Statement, Strongly Condemns Assassination of Algerian Diplomats in Baghdad

NEW YORK, 27 July (UN Headquarters) -- The Security Council condemned in the strongest possible terms today the assassination of Ali Belaroussi and Azzeddine Belkadi, the two diplomats accredited to the Algerian Embassy to Iraq.

In a statement read out by its President, Adamantios Th. Vassilakis (Greece), the Council emphasized that there could be no justification for such terrorist acts and underlined the need to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The meeting began at 5:08 p.m. and ended at 5:10 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2005/37 reads as follows:

“The Security Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination, today, 27 July, 2005, of the two Algerian diplomats, accredited at the Algerian Embassy to Iraq, M. Ali Belaroussi and M. Azzedine Belkadi, and expresses its condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Algeria.

“The Security Council emphasizes that there can be no justification for such terrorist acts and underlines the need to bring to justice its perpetrators.

“The Security Council reaffirms its unwavering support for the Iraqi people in their political transition, as outlined in UNSCR 1546.  The Security Council also reaffirms Iraq’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and calls upon the international community to stand by the Iraqi people in their pursuit of peace, stability and democracy.”

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