RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT ISSUES STATEMENT ON MIDEAST CRISIS

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MOSCOW, MARCH 26, 2004, RIA NOVOSTI - The State Duma, or Russia's lower house of parliament, has issued a statement in connection with the latest developments in the Middle East.

In the statement, the Russian MPs express their deep concern over the implications of the recent killing by Israeli security forces of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of the militant Islamic movement Hamas. They fear that the assassination of Yassin will further destabilize the situation in the region, provoking an upsurge of Palestinian militant attacks against Israeli targets and thus putting the whole Mideast peace process at risk.

The lawmakers recognize the State of Israel's right to defend its citizens, but they do not think its extra-judicial executions and its missile strikes in densely populated areas can be justified.

They express support for the Russian Foreign Ministry's stance on the issue and urge the UN Commission for Human Rights to speed up the elaboration of a counter-terrorism code. They also call on the conflicting sides not to commit any extra-judicial killings or acts of violence against civilians.

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