Condemning terrorist attack in Tel-Aviv, Annan says it must not derail peace efforts

The United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, today condemned in the strongest possible terms tonight's terrorist attack in Tel Aviv and urged Israelis and Palestinians not to let what called “this morally reprehensible act” derail the resumption of the peace process.

“The Secretary-General calls on all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and begin the implementation of the Road Map that will be presented shortly,” a spokesman for the Secretary-General said in a statement released at UN Headquarters in New York late on Tuesday.

Mr. Annan also reiterated his appeal to the Palestinians to pursue non-violent policies and urges the Palestinian Authority to make every effort to stop these terrorist acts against Israelis.

“The Secretary-General remains convinced that there is no alternative to a political solution of the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the statement said.