Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 23, 2004
China opposes, condemns assassination of Yassin
China opposes and condemns the assassination of the Palestinian Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin by Israel, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said Tuesday in Beijing.
China opposes and condemns the assassination of the Palestinian Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin by Israel, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said Tuesday in Beijing.
Kong told a regular press conference that China advocates resolving the dispute through dialogue and negotiation, stressing such stance on the Mideast issue is "consistent."
The international community made a strong response after Yassin's assassination. It was the second time that Kong commented on the incident.
"We think that the 'target assassination' adopted by Israel is unhelpful to resolving the problem," Kong said.
He urged all sides to keep restraint and avoid acts that may lead to further escalation of the already tense situation.
It was reported that Israeli Apache helicopters fired three missiles at Yassin and his two bodyguards at daybreak Monday as they left a mosque near his house, killing them instantly.
Yassin, who founded Hamas in 1987, was held in Israeli prisons for several years before being released in 1994.