Foreign Minister Petersen strongly condemns the killing of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi

"We strongly condemn the killing of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi," said Foreign Minister Jan Petersen.

"The fact that Israel carries out such extrajudicial killings is cause for grave concern. We recognise Israel’s right to defend itself against terror, but that does not justify actions such as the one Israel has just carried out. This will merely contribute to raising the level of violence in the Middle East," said Mr Petersen.

"I urgently appeal to the parties to return to the Roadmap for Peace. I repeat my call to Israel not to direct similar attacks against the Palestinians’ elected leader, Yasser Arafat," said the minister.