Colombia: Annan condemns attack during inauguration of new President

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today strongly condemned the violent attacks that took place during yesterday's inauguration ceremony of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez.

"The Secretary-General empathically condemns any attack against civilians and reiterates his longstanding appeal to armed elements in Colombia to respect the civilian population," said a spokesman for Mr. Annan in New York.

Fourteen people were killed and dozens of others injured during the attack in the capital, Bogotá, according to the statement, which cited initial reports indicating that most of those killed were civilians from a poor neighbourhood near the Presidential palace.

"The violence that, sadly, has become part of daily life in Colombia, demonstrates a complete disregard for human life," spokesman Fred Eckhard said, adding that the Secretary-General hoped that in the coming period Colombia would seek political solutions to resolve its decades-long conflict.