Rudd condemns Rabbani assassination
11:49 AEST Wed Sep 21 2011
Share
Australia has condemned the "cowardly" assassination of Afghan peacemaker and former president Burhanuddin Rabbani.
A suicide bomber used a bomb concealed in a turban to kill Rabbani at his home in Kabul overnight.Rabbani was head of the Afghanistan's High Peace Council and served as the country's president from 1992 to 1996.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said Australia condemned the attack.
"Professor Rabbani was dedicated to advancing the peace process and I am appalled at his murder by those seeking to derail the creation of a stable Afghanistan," Mr Rudd said in a statement.
"I am confident this cowardly attack will not deter the vital work being done by the High Peace Council to bring about a peaceful and secure Afghanistan."
Australia offered its condolences to Prof Rabbani's family, friends and the people of Afghanistan, Mr Rudd said.
"The government of Afghanistan can continue to count on Australia's strong support for its efforts to achieve a lasting peace."
Australia also offered its sympathies to the Head of the High Peace Council's Secretariat, Massoum Stanekzai, who was injured in the attack.
Current Afghan President Hamid Karzai insists the assassination will not derail the country's peace process.
© AAP 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment