IRAN CONDEMNED TERRORIST OPERATIONS IN THE US, EXPRESSES SYMPATHY WITH VICTIMS

TEHRAN 12 Sept. (IPS)    Iran joined Tuesday the world in condemning the unprecedented suicide operations in New York and Washington that left thousands dead and wounded.

President Mohammad Khatami condemned the unprecedented suicide "terrorist" attacks in which unidentified suicide terrorists crushed hijacked planes into the twin Trade World Center towers in the crammed Manhattan area of New York and another one on the Defence Ministry in Washington D.C.

Mr. Khatami condemned the operation and expressed his "deep sorrow and sympathy" with the American nation, the Iranian official news agency IRNA reported.

"On behalf of the Iranian government and the nation, I condemn the hijacking attempts and terrorist attacks on public centers in American cities which have killed a large number of innocent people," the Agency quoted President Khatami as having said in reaction to the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor.

"My deep sympathy goes out to the American nation, particularly those who have suffered from the attacks and also the families of the victims" the Iranian President said in a statement, adding that "terrorism is doomed and the international community should stem it and take effective measures in a bid to eradicate it".

Khatami added that the Islamic Republic is treading a road to uproot terrorism and to this end, he noted, it will spare no efforts.

The well-planned, carefully kept secret and highly sophisticated terrorist attack was condemned by all world leaders, including Mr. Yaser Arafat, the "President" of the Palestinian Authority as well as the Libyan and Syrian presidents, except of the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein who, expressing satisfaction and felicitating the suicide commandos, said the United States was paying "the price of its crimes". ENDS US SUICIDE OPERATIONS 12901