UNSC slams series attacks on embassies

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council strongly condemned a series of violent attacks against embassies and consular premises of member states in multiple locations on September 13 and 14.

In a press statement, members of the Council expressed deep concern at these attacks recalling that the very nature of diplomatic premises is peaceful and that diplomats have among their core functions the promotion of better understanding across countries and cultures.

The Council reaffirmed that "such acts are unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed."

The Council recalled the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises, and the obligations on host governments, including under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity, said the statement.

In this context, members of the Council called on all authorities to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel, and to respect fully their international obligations in this regard, it said.

Hundreds of protesters, angered by a US-made movie that "insults Prophet Mohammad," broke into the US consulate building in Benghazi on Tuesday night, and set ablaze the building.

The US ambassador was killed along with three US embassy staff as they rushed away from the consulate building.

In the Iranian capital, Tehran, up to 500 people protested over the issue chanting "Death to America!" and death to the movie's director, reports said.

Thursday morning witnessed the storming of the US embassy in Yemen by several hundred protesters, reportedly angry about the film video on YouTube.

Meanwhile, thousands of Sudanese protesters stormed the embassies of Germany and Britain in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Friday, in protest against the anti-Islam film.