The Hindu : International : No justification for Berg killing: Bush

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 13, 2004

International

International

No justification for Berg killing: Bush

WASHINGTON, MAY 12. The U.S. President, George W. Bush said on Wednesday that ``there's no justification'' for the execution of American Nicholas Berg in Iraq.

The terrorists who beheaded Berg wanted to "shake" America's resolve in bringing democracy to Iraq, Mr. Bush said.

Berg, 26, was shown being decapitated on a videotape posted this week by an Al Qaeda-linked website.

"There is no justification for the brutal execution of Nicholas Berg — no justification whatsoever," Mr. Bush told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House as he left for an education speech.

Annan horrified

At the United Nations, the Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, said he was horrified at the decapitation of an American in Iraq that was transformed into "a public spectacle" and appealed today for the respect of international law.

Mr. Annan also condemned "all killings of innocent civilians in Iraq as he condemns all abuse of prisoners and other violations of international humanitarian law," the U.N. spokesman, Fred Eckhard said.

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