In wake of terrorist attacks, Ban expresses solidarity with people and governments of Kuwait and Tunisia | WPN World People News

Earlier on June 27, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon telephoned both the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, and Beji Caid Essebsi, President of Tunisia, expressing his deepest sympathies to the Governments of people of both nations following Friday's deadly terrorist attacks.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks on the telephone

“The Secretary-General expressed to the Amir his deepest indignation at Friday's terrorist attacks on the Iman Sadiq Mosque in Kuwait City,” said a read-out issued from San Francisco, where he is wrapping up a series of events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Charter.

According to the read-out, Mr. Ban told the Amir that he was appalled that innocent people would be targeted in their place of worship, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

“There can be no justification for such acts,” the Secretary-General said, referring to the vicious attacks, which struck countries on three continents this past Friday, 26 June, hitting not only Kuwait and Tunisia, but also France.

“He asked the Amir to convey his condolences to the families of the victims and his wishes for a speedy recovery for the wounded,” said the read-out.

In a separate call to the President of Tunisia, the read-out continued, the Secretary-General expressed his solidarity with the people and government of Tunisia following the terrorist attack on a hotel in Sousse on Friday. Mr. Ban condemned the attack in the strongest of terms.

“The Secretary-General reiterated to the President the United Nations' willingness to support the Tunisian Government in combatting terrorism through capacity building projects,” the read-out concluded.

Mr. Ban's strong condemnation and pledge of UN-wide support follows a similar statement issued by his spokesperson in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. That statement was quickly followed by equally strong condemnation from the UN Security Council and a host of senior UN officials.

As information was becoming available at the time, the Council, in its statement, laid out the circumstances of the separate attacks: against a chemical products factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, France, triggering an explosion and killing at least one through a gruesome beheading while injuring others; a bomb attack in a Shiite mosque in Kuwait City, Kuwait, killing at least 24 and injuring many more; and gunmen attacking a tourist hotel near Sousse, Tunisia, killing at least 37 and injuring many others.

Source: United Nations