Former US president Bill Clinton, who is a UN special envoy on tsunami recovery efforts in the Indian Ocean, expressed shock Monday at the killing of 16 aid workers in Sri Lanka.
"I was shocked and saddened to hear of the killings in Sri Lanka" of the workers "who I understand were providing assistance to tsunami survivors in the eastern part of the country", Clinton said.
The slain workers were staff in the Sri Lankan city of Muttur for the French aid group Action Against Hunger (Action Contre le Faim), which has decided to withdraw from the country because of the attack.
"I hope that this wanton act will not deter the critical efforts of aid workers in Sri Lanka, who have operated with courage and determination under difficult circumstances," added Clinton in a statement released by the UN's office of the special envoy for tsunami recovery, set up after the December 2004 disaster in the region.
"I offer my condolences to the victims and strongly urge the authorities to do everything possible to apprehend the perpetrators of this crime and bring them to justice," said Clinton.
