Security Council lashes recent wave of terrorist attacks in Iraq

The United Nations Security Council today deplored the recent wave of terrorist attacks in Iraq against Iraqi and foreign nationals, and international and Coalition Provisional Authority personnel, which have left many people dead or injured.

In a statement read out by this month's President, Ambassador Stefan Tafrov of Bulgaria, the Council says it condemns the attacks "in the strongest terms" and sends its condolences to the victims and their families.

"Members of the Security Council urge all States to fully cooperate in the efforts to find and bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of these attacks," the statement reads, adding that the Council reaffirms its support for resolution 1511, passed in October, which provides a framework for UN and international participation in the political and economic rebuilding of Iraq and the maintenance of security."

The statement referred to specific incidents on 12, 29 and 30 November against Colombian, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish personnel.

The Council also held consultations today on the work of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspections Commission for Iraq (UNMOVIC), which presented its latest report last week.

According to that report, UN weapons inspectors withdrawn from Iraq before the war in March have continued analyzing samples and evaluating missiles to determine whether the regime led by Saddam Hussein held any banned weapons.

The UNMOVIC report also said the commission has not been given the results of investigations by the United States-led Iraq Survey Group. UNMOVIC inspectors have not returned to work in Iraq since the war.

UNMOVIC's acting Executive Chairman Demetrius Perricos briefed the Council today on the contents of the report.