UN Security Council condemns deadly terrorist attacks in Burkina Faso

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) - United Nations Security Council on Saturday condemned in the strongest terms the deadly terrorist attacks on Friday in Burkina Faso, which killed at least 29 people.

Security forces freed 126 hostages from the Splendid Hotel seized by militants from Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and killed four attackers on Saturday. Ten foreigners are among the victims, including six Canadians and two French and two Swiss nationals.

The members of the council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Burkina Faso, as well as to all governments whose citizens were targeted in these attacks, said the council's press statement.

The council members expressed their solidarity with Burkina Faso and the countries in the region in their fight against terrorism and stressed the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, it said.

Reaffirming that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, the council "underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice," it said.

The Splendid Hotel, not far from the capital city's international airport, often hosts Westerners, including UN staff and journalists. Endi