Iran strongly condemns assassination of diplomat in Yemen

Iran Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the assassination of an Iranian diplomat in Yemen as an “inhumane and terrorist” act targeting Muslim unity.

“The terrorist incident in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a…revealed the violent and extremist face of Takfiri groups and is only in line with the nefarious interests of the enemies of the Muslim world in targeting the unity and solidarity among the Islamic Ummah,” Iran Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

It noted that such terrorist and violent measures will increase the hatred that Muslim countries and nations, particularly the Muslim people of Iran and Yemen, have for terrorism, violence and extremism.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes it is imperative that all countries, governments and international organizations take swift action to condemn such terrorist measures and adopt effective strategies to uproot this global problem,” the statement added.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry also vowed to use all its political and legal capacities to investigate the case along with the Yemeni officials for the immediate capture, trial and punishment of those behind the assassination.

On Saturday, the commercial attaché of the Iranian Embassy in Sana’a, Abolqasem Asadi, was gunned down by members of a terrorist group outside the Iranian ambassador’s residence in the Yemeni capital.

The assailants first tried to kidnap the Iranian diplomat but when they faced resistance, opened fire on him.

The diplomat who was seriously injured succumbed to his wounds at hospital.

Following the incident, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Yemeni chargé d'affaires to protest the fatal shooting of the Iranian diplomat in Sana’a.

The Foreign Ministry reminded the Yemeni Embassy official that under international rules and regulations, governments are responsible for the security of foreign diplomats.

In a telephone conversation after the attack, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi expressed condolences to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and the victim’s family.

Qirbi also said the Yemeni government would welcome an Iranian delegation to Sana’a and was ready to cooperate with Iran to investigate the attack.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/01/19/346459/iran-condemns-diplomat-assassination/