Security Council, Ban deplore terrorist attack outside US embassy in Yemen

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have strongly condemned today’s terrorist bombing outside the United States embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, which has killed at least 16 people and wounded many others.

Media reports say that the casualties in the attack include Yemeni security guards at the embassy, as well as civilians outside the building.

“Attacks on diplomatic facilities and personnel worldwide are against international law and are totally unacceptable,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said in a statement. “The Secretary-General calls on the Yemeni authorities to spare no effort in bringing those responsible to justice.”

In the statement Mr. Ban offered his condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a full recovery.

Ambassador Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, which holds the rotating Council presidency this month, read out a statement in which the 15-member panel also strongly condemned the attack.

“The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism to justice, commended the commitment of the Government of Yemen to this end and urged all States… to cooperate actively with the Yemeni authorities in this regard,” Mr. Kafando said.

He stressed that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation.

“The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.”