Australia condemns assassination of former Afghan president

Australia condemns assassination of former Afghan president

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday condemned the assassination of Burhanuddin Rabbani, an Afghanistan peacemaker and former president of Afghanistan.

Rudd said Professor Rabbani was dedicated to advancing the peace process, and he was appalled at his murder by those seeking to derail the creation of a stable Afghanistan.

"I am confident this cowardly attack will not deter the vital work being done by the High Peace Council to bring about a peaceful and secure Afghanistan," he said in a statement released on Wednesday, adding that Australia offered its condolences to Prof Rabbani's family, friends and the people of Afghanistan.

Rudd reaffirmed that Afghanistan government could continue to count on Australia's strong support for its efforts to achieve a lasting peace.

Australia also offered its sympathies to the Head of the High Peace Council's Secretariat, Massoum Stanekzai, who was injured in the attack.

A suicide bomber on Tuesday night killed Rabbani at his home in Kabula with bomb concealed in a turban, the Afghan capital.

Editor: Lu Hui

English.news.cn   2011-09-21 12:12:43 FeedbackPrintRSS
CANBERRA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua)