Security Council 'unequivocally' condemns terrorist strikes against US

In an unprecedented gesture of unanimity, members of the United Nations Security Council today stood up in the Council's chamber to vote for a resolution condemning -- "unequivocally" and "in the strongest terms" -- Tuesday's terrorist attacks against the United States.

By its resolution, the Council expressed its readiness to take all necessary steps to respond to the attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania - and any acts of terrorism - which it called "criminal and unjustifiable."

The Council called on all States to work together urgently to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors, stressing that anyone who aids, supports or harbours those people will be held accountable.

Emphasizing that the attacks represented a threat to international peace and security, the Council called on the international community to redouble its efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts by increased cooperation and full implementation of the relevant anti-terrorist conventions and Security Council resolutions.

The Council also expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims, their families and the people and Government of the United States.

Prior to the adoption of the resolution, individual members of the Council took the floor to voice their outrage, condemning the attacks, urging that the perpetrators be brought to justice, and offering expressions of solidarity and sympathy to the US. In their statements, they echoed the views expressed at the outset of the meeting by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who described yesterday's events as "an attack on humanity as a whole" and urged all nations to join forces in finding the perpetrators.

US Ambassador James Cunningham said his country had suffered a cowardly and evil attack, "but America is not and will not be shaken in its resolve."

"We will grieve and we will heal," Ambassador Cunningham said. "We look to all those who stand for peace, justice and security in the world to stand together with the United States to win the war against terrorism." He warned that the US would make no distinction between the terrorists and those who harboured them, pledging to bring those responsible to account.

"Yesterday's horrifying images burned now into the global memory serve as a constant reminder to all of the need to stamp out this scourge and of the need for determination and action to do so," he said.