UN Council condemns ETA in blast on Spain's word

Reuters ^ | 11 Mar 2004 | Evelyn Leopold

[yonif]

UNITED NATIONS, March 11 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council on Thursday condemned the Basque separatist group ETA as the perpetrators of the deadly bombings in Spain, although members had no way of determining the veracity of the charge.

Despite some hesitations over the resolution, members voted 15-0 to accept the word of the Spanish government, which immediately blamed the ETA for the simultaneous explosions that killed 190 people and injured more than 1,200 on packed trains in Madrid.

The resolution "condemns in the strongest terms the bomb attacks in Madrid, Spain, perpetrated by the terrorist group ETA on 11 March 2004, in which many lives were claimed and people injured, and regard such act, like any act of terrorism, as a threat to peace and security."

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks across the Spanish capital three days before a national election. But Spain, which has a seat on the council, insisted ETA was to blame and brushed aside suggestions Muslim militants, angry at Madrid's support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq, were behind the attacks.

"The Spanish government stated that and the Spanish delegation has asked the council to put this element in their resolution and members of the council accepted it," said France's ambassador, Jean-Marc de la Sabliere, who holds this month's Security Council's presidency.

U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said Washington was satisfied with the Spanish government's explanation. "It is the judgment that these attacks were carried out by the ETA and we have no information to the contrary," he told reporters.

He said Spain believed the blasts had hallmarks of an ETA attack because of other threats in previous weeks in the run-up to elections on Sunday.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan was more cautious and did not name any perpetrators.

"It is indeed with profound shock and indignation that I learned about the terrorist attack in Madrid today. Once again we see senseless killing of innocent people," he said.

"Killing of innocent people can not be justified regardless of the cause," Annan said, adding he offered his "deepest sympathy" to Spanish King Juan Carlos I, the government, friends of the dead and injured survivors.

"I hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice," Annan told reporters.

Spain's deputy ambassador, Ana Maria Menendez, told reporters after the meeting, telling reporters, "In this moment of grief and pain and suffering for the Spanish people, we have been comforted by the unanimous and very fast adoption of resolution 1530."

She called the measure an "unequivocal condemnation of the terrible, terrible terrorist attacks which took place this morning in Madrid."

[yonif]

Smell the hypocrisy?

[atomicpossum]

Will they still comdemn it if it turns out to be Muslims (as it looks like it might be)?

[yonif]

The resolution "condemns in the strongest terms the bomb attacks in Madrid, Spain, perpetrated by the terrorist group ETA on 11 March 2004, in which many lives were claimed and people injured, and regard such act, like any act of terrorism, as a threat to peace and security."

Very quick and swift. Even Syria voted for the resolution. When terror, like in Spain occurs in Israel, they remain quiet. I don't see a blame for Spain either. And they call the group a "terrorist" one.

[kahoutek]

"insisted ETA was to blame and brushed aside suggestions Muslim militants, angry at Madrid's support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq, were behind the attacks."

Bulletin to Reuters......they were so.

[AmishDude]

Looks like Syria will have to condemn al Qaeda when we discover that it wasn't ETA.

[avg_freeper]

They sure are quick to get this non-muslim accusation out.

[cripplecreek]

The infallable UN will have to retract that statement. FOX just reported that an AQ letter has claimed responsibility for the blast.

[mabelkitty]

UN taking a page from Clinton/OKC bombing.
Blame others to deflect from the real murderers you don't want to deal with.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Awfully quick to blame ETA when:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1095624/posts
Al Quaeda takes Responsibility for Spain!!!

[LibWhacker]

Yo-yos.

[cripplecreek]

Koffi Annans day just keeps getting worse. First his boy is exposed as a crimminal. Then he denounces the non muslim terrorists just minutes before the muslim terrorists claim responsibility.

[Bismarck]

Why not condemning the Martians for this one?!

Can't those morons see that it was an ISLAMIC ACT!!!!

[Betaille]

Al Qaeda has just Claimed responsibility. This is so indicative of WHY I HATE THE UN!!!!

[Betaille]

In our race to find a politically correct person to blame for this, the UN and Spanish Government predictably "forgot" to accept the obvious. These were muslims.

[CFC__VRWC]

I don't see a blame for Spain either. And they call the group a "terrorist" one.

That's bound to change now that al Qaeda has claimed responsibility.

Any moment now the cry will go out on both sides of the Atlantic -

IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!!!!

[Focault's Pendulum]

Al Quaeda takes Responsibility for Spain!!!

Thanks...but the post was pulled as a duplicate. It was reported on Fox News, by Shep Smith.

Gotta love the UN for their instantaneous investigative press statements.

[cyncooper]

Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility.

They've blamed the wrong terrorists.

And Kerry can take his "threat of terrorism is exaggerated" and (censored for family forum).

[mountaineer]

A U.N. resolution and about 89 cents will buy you a cup of coffee. BFD.

[taxesareforever]

Looks like the U.N. in natural form has spoken too soon. In latest news it appears that Al Queda may be involved. How will the U.N.(Utter Nonsense) respond to this? Oh, they will probably ask the U.S. to send troops to Spain. Certainly wouldn't want the U.N. to be involved in anything that may get a person hurt or killed. That would ruin their image of see nothing, know nothing and will do nothing.

[taxesareforever]

Looks like the U.N. in natural form has spoken too soon. In latest news it appears that Al Queda may be involved. How will the U.N.(Utter Nonsense) respond to this? Oh, they will probably ask the U.S. to send troops to Spain. Certainly wouldn't want the U.N. to be involved in anything that may get a person hurt or killed. That would ruin their image of see nothing, know nothing and will do nothing.