Governments condemn Corinthia hotel attack

The governments of France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States have condemned yesterday’s attack on the Corinthia Hotel in Tripoli, Libya that left nine people dead.

Three of the victims were security officers and five were hotel guests, including American security contractor David Berry, a former Marine. The FBI has opened an investigation.

At least two terrorists are known to have died in a suicide mission on the top floor of the Corinthia Hotel when they detonated explosives they were carrying in a back-pack.

“We express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families. We reject such appalling acts of terrorism, which should not be allowed to undermine Libya’s political process. We call on Libyans to condemn this and all acts of terrorism and to seek an end to the ongoing conflict, which only exacerbates the terrorist threat,” the governments said.

“We continue to strongly support the efforts of the United Nations and Special Representative Bernardino Leon to bring a political solution to the ongoing political, security and institutional crisis in the country. We commend those who have participated in these discussions in Geneva.

“We strongly urge all other Libyan parties to engage seriously in this process to avert a further deterioration in the humanitarian situation experienced by ordinary Libyans as a result of the ongoing conflict, and to prevent the further erosion of Libya’s sovereignty and security. We call on all sides to refrain from any actions which undermine the prospects for a successful political dialogue, including any effort to divert necessary supplies of food, electricity and water from major population centres.”