Int'l community slams terrorist attack in Kunming

BEIJING - The international community has strongly condemned a deadly terrorist attack in Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province and sent condolences to the victims' families.

The United Nations Security Council said in a statement on Sunday that the 15-nation UN body condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack on Saturday evening in the Kunming train station.

"The members of the security council extended their deepest sympathy and condolence to the victims and their families who suffered from such most heinous terrorist attack, as well as to the people and the government of the People's Republic of China," the statement said.

"The security council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, wherever and whenever and by whomsoever committed," the statement said.

The UN body reiterated its determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations, stressing the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this terrorist attack to justice.

The mass knife attack in the Kunming train station on Saturday night has left at least 28 innocent civilians dead and 113 others injured.

The authorities said the brutal attack was an organized, premeditated violent terrorist attack, and was orchestrated by Xinjiang separatist forces.

Appalled by the reports of the significant loss of life, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton extended condolences and sympathy to the families who have suffered death and injury.

"There is never any justification for such heinous crimes," Ashton's spokesman Sebastien Brabant told Xinhua.

Germany on Sunday also strongly condemned the brutal attack on innocent civilians conducted by a group of knife-wielding militants in the well-known tourist city.

"This act cannot be justified," the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Stressing that the Pakistani people fully understand and share the pain of the people of China, Pakistan said Sunday that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

"We are ready to extend all possible cooperation to China in combating this menace," Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that "our prayers and thoughts are with the families of the victims of this terrorist attack."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party on Sunday also denounced the terrorist attack in Yunnan and sent deep condolences to the Chinese people and their leadership, saying that they believed China will recover from this ordeal and is able "to confront anyone who tries to target the stability of our friend China."

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