Wed, June 10, 2009
ISLAMABAD, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations community in Pakistan Wednesday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Peshawar city on Tuesday night which claimed a number of human lives and left many injured.
The UN has lost two colleagues, Mr. Aleksandar Vorkapic of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Ms. Perseveranda So of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and four injured, a press release from the Information Center in Islamabad said, "The whole UN community feels shock and dismay on the tragic deaths and injuries."
Fikret Akcura, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, said: "On behalf of the United Nations community in Pakistan, I strongly condemn this heinous attack. No cause can justify the killing and injuring of humanitarian workers and innocent civilians. We are determined to continue our humanitarian support to over two million Pakistani citizens who have been affected by the ongoing displacement crises. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the speedy recovery of all those who have been injured," according to the statement.
Local press reports said the two victims of the blast were from Russia and the Philippines. However, Ishrat Rizvi, National Information Officer of the UN declined to confirm their nationalities.
Militants blew up their explosives-laden vehicle after storming into the compound of a five-star hotel named Pearl Continental situated on the Khyber Road in Peshawar, capital city of North West Frontier Province on Tuesday night, killing at least 15 people and injuring scores of others, the private Geo TV channel reported.
