Members of Security Council condemn 'horrifying' terror attacks on US

Reacting with shock to acts of terror against the United States, members of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday unanimously condemned the attacks and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

In a statement to the press on behalf of the members, Council President Jean-David Levitte of France called the incidents in New York, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere "a tragedy for - and a challenge to - all humanity."

"Members of the Security Council call on all States to work together urgently to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of today's outrages," said Ambassador Levitte. "They call on the international community to redouble its efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts by increased cooperation and full implementation of relevant international anti-terrorist conventions and Security Council resolutions."

Council members expressed their readiness to take urgent action in response, and extended their deepest sympathy to the victims, their families and the Government and people of the United States.

Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, voiced her "deep revulsion at the horrific event."

"The callous and barbaric actions of those who perpetrated these crimes are indefensible and could never be justified," she said in a statement released in Geneva.

The High Commissioner said the actions "strike at the fundamental human rights of every person and are totally unacceptable."

Urging a period of calm, Mrs. Robinson said, "The best tribute we can pay to those who lost their lives today and to their grieving family and friends is to ensure that justice, and not revenge, is served."