Yemen: Security Council condemns deadly bombing at Iranian Ambassador’s residence

The United Nations Security Council has condemned yesterday’s bomb attack at the residence of the Iranian Ambassador to Yemen which killed several people.

In a press statement issued today, the 15-member body expressed its deep sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of those killed and injured by these “heinous acts.”

The Council condemned in the strongest terms all acts of violence against diplomatic premises, which endanger innocent lives and “seriously impede the normal work of diplomatic representatives and officials.”

“Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security…any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation,” the Council reiterated.

Council members recalled in their statement the fundamental principle of the “inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises,” and the obligations on host Governments to take all appropriate steps to protect those premises and prevent any attack on diplomatic agents and consular officers.

This, they said, is an obligation under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

Council members reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

Perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of acts of terrorism to justice must be brought to justice, members said as they urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Yemeni authorities in this regard.

Despite the formation of a new Government on 7 November aimed at ending a period of political turbulence and bringing about a full transition towards democracy, Yemen continues to be plagued by violence.

The UN human rights office has recently voiced concern over human rights abuses in the country, saying that it had “documented serious violations committed by all sides” of the ongoing conflict including killing of civilians, arbitrary detentions, the recruitment of children and the targeting of schools and hospitals.