PRESS RELEASE NO. 29/2004
THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION OF THE AFRICAN UNION
CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF DR. ABDEL AZIZ AL-RANTISSI
The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Mr. Alpha Oumar Konaré condemns the assassination of the Hamas leader in Gaza, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, during an Israeli air strike in Gaza on Saturday, 17 April 2004.
The Chairperson stress once again that the killings of Palestinian leaders will incite more violence and undermine any prospects for dialogue and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. More importantly, such actions which are illegal and in violation of international law, only serves to compound the prevailing atmosphere of insecurity and despair, especially among the already brutalized Palestinian population.
The Chairperson, once again, calls on the international community, including in particular, the Middle East quartet of the UN, Russia, the United States and the European Union, to intensify their efforts to relaunch the peace process in the Middle East and to encourage the Parties to revert to the implementation of the proposals for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the Palestinian problem, in line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and in order to guarantee the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to statehood.
Addis Ababa, 19 April 2004
Document Type: Press Release
Document Sources: African Union (See also - Organization of African Unity (OAU))
Subject: Extrajudicial killings
Publication Date: 20/04/2004