Annan condemns Colombian rebel group for 'vicious' killing of hostages

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today strongly condemned the recent "vicious killings" of 10 hostages by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), calling the rebel group's action a "dangerous intensification of the conflict" that demanded immediate steps to stop the spiral of violence.

"The kidnapping and killing of civilians and prisoners are a violation of international humanitarian law, and the FARC must be held responsible for the lives of all those whom it has kidnapped and detained," a statement issued in New York by a spokesman for Mr. Annan said.

Declaring that the Secretary-General's good offices remained at the disposal of the parties in the search for a political solution, the statement added: "These events should stimulate both profound reflection and immediate steps to stop the spiral of kidnappings, forced displacement, massacres and assassinations that have made civilians the primary victims of Colombia's conflict."

Among those killed were two leading activists for peace, Antioquia Governor Guillermo Gaviria and former Defence Minister Gilberto Echeverri. The Secretary-General expressed his deep condolences to the families of all the victims.