2nd LD Writethru: UN Security Council slams terrorist bomb attack on Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan

The UN Security Council on Thursday "condemned in the strongest terms the serious terrorist bomb attack" against the Chinese Embassy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Aug. 30, which caused injuries of the embassy staff.

"The members of the Security Council expressed their deep sympathy to the injured and their families and to the government of China and the government of Kyrgyzstan," the 15-nation UN body said in a press statement issued here Thursday night. "They wished a speedy recovery to those injured in this heinous terrorist attack."

The council members noted the ongoing efforts of the Kyrgyz government to fully investigate this terrorist attack and "underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors to justice," the statement said.

The council members also urged all nations, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with relevant governments and authorities in this regard, the statement said.

The Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan was attacked Tuesday morning by a suicide car bomber, in which the lone assailant was killed and five others were injured, besides serious material damage.

The attack occurred one day before Kyrgyzstan celebrated the 25th anniversary of independence from the former Soviet Union.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry immediately expressed shock at the attack. It strongly condemned the car bombing, and required Kyrgyzstan to "take immediate and necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese people and institutions," according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all 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, whenever and by whomsoever committed," the statement said.

The council members "reaffirmed the need to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and all obligations under international law, including international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council also stressed the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on host governments, including under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity, and to prevent any attack on diplomatic premises, agents and consular officers," said the statement.

The explosion also caused damage to the embassy door and wall, as well as buildings next to the Chinese embassy.

The embassy compound and the area in the vicinity are currently under police blockade due to security concerns, with bomb disposal experts working on the scene.

A senior Kyrgyz security officer told Xinhua in Bishkek that according to preliminary information, it was quite likely that the explosives planted inside the car caused the explosion.

The assailant was blown into bits and local police are trying to identify the assailant using DNA extracted from remains of the suicide bomber. Endi