UAE, OIC condemn killing of British soldier

Abu Dhabi, May 25 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have strongly condemned the killing of a British soldier in Woolwich, London.

"This brutal act is rejected by all religions and deserves every condemnation and denunciation," UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said.

Sheikh Abdullah also expressed the UAE's solidarity with Britain in combating terrorism, and hailed the way the British government dealt with the crime.

The UAE minister praised the strong and clear stance of Islamic councils and associations in Britain, and their condemnation of the crime.

Meanwhile, reiterating the OIC's strong position against all forms of terror, including violence based on religion, an OIC spokesman said: "The brutal and barbaric killing in Woolwich was a criminal and outrageous act by the individuals involved who clearly acted on their own."

Such a criminal act should in no way be connected to Islam as the Islamic faith preaches peace and rejects terror and killing of innocent people, he said.

A serving British soldier was hacked to death by two attackers wielding knives and a meat cleaver near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich in southeast London Wednesday.

--IANS/WAM

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