UNITED NATIONS, June 30: Underscoring that no cause can justify acts of terror, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday condemned ‘in the strongest possible terms’ the killing of four Russian diplomats in Iraq following their abduction last week.

“The Security Council is appalled by the horrific death of members of the Russian diplomatic mission in Iraq who had been kidnapped by a terrorist group and later ruthlessly and in cold blood executed by their captors,” the 15-member council said in a statement read out by Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Loj of Denmark.

Conveying its condolences to the families of the deceased and to the Russian Federation, the Council also urged all states to cooperate with efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of such acts.

It stressed the importance of supporting the government of Iraq to exercise its responsibility in providing protection to the diplomatic community, United Nations staff and other foreign civilian personnel working in the country.