UN Secretary General condemns the attack

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon has condemned Wednesday's attack on President Gayoom's life. In a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Abdulla Shahid, Secretary-General Ban said that he was relieved to learn that the President escaped unhurt from the incident. He also commended the young Boy Scout, who intervened to protect the President, for his outstanding bravery.

The attack was also condemned by the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze. In the ceremony held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva for the newly-appointed Maldives' Permanent Representative to the UNOG, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed to present his credentials, Mr. Ordzhonikidze noted that it was with deep shock and concern that he had received the news of the assassination attempt. He also said that he was pleased that the President had escaped unhurt from the incident.

The attempt to assassinate President Gayoom was strongly condemned by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Senior officials at the UNOHCHR issued their condemnation of the act in a meeting with the newly-appointed Maldives' Permanent Representative to the UNOG, Mr. Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed. They conveyed to President Gayoom the good wishes of High Commissioner Louise Arbour, and said that she was happy to learn that the attacker had failed in his attempt.

Heads of Diplomatic Missions in Male' have also strongly condemned the cowardly act.