UNITED NATIONS, May 12 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Wednesday "was horrified by the gruesome murder of a civilian hostage in Iraq," referring to the beheading of an American.
Fred Eckhard, when asked by reporters, said Annan, "was particularly disturbed by the use of this killing as public spectacle. He extends his deepest condolences to the family of the victim and can only imagine how they must be feeling."
The father of contractor Nicholas Berg, 26, of West Chester, Pa., whose beheading was televised Tuesday, said he was holding the U.S. government indirectly responsible for his son's death by preventing him from coming home before the violence in Iraq worsened. Berg's family learned he had been detained by Iraqi police at a checkpoint for unknown reasons, then turned over to the U.S. military.
The U.N. spokesman said, Annan "condemns all killings of innocent civilians in Iraq as he condemns all abuse of prisoners and other violations of international law. Now more than ever the secretary-general once again appeals to all parties to adhere strictly to the fundamental precepts of human rights and principles of international humanitarian law."
