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UN Security Council condemns «apparent terrorist attack» in Minsk

The UN Security Council condemned what it described as "an apparent terrorist attack" in the Minsk subway system on Monday evening, according to AFP.

"The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the apparent terrorist attack that occurred in Minsk, Republic of Belarus, on April 11, 2011, causing numerous deaths and injuries," the Security Council said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

"They expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the victims of this heinous act and to their families, and to the people and government of the Republic of Belarus," the statement said.

The United States, with the backing of other Western nations, insisted on adding the word "apparent" to the normally routine Security Council statement issued after attacks, AFP noted.

In a statement issued late on Monday to express "sincerest condolences to the people of Belarus," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon referred to "an explosion" in the Minsk subway system, AFP said, adding that Mr. Ban is "normally an explicit critic of terrorist outrages."

The US State Department condemned the bombing on Tuesday but avoided calling it terrorist. A statement released by the French foreign ministry also used the term "explosion." //BelaPAN