18 March 2004 –  The  Philippines  today  condemns the  latest bombings in central Baghdad Iraq that destroyed  the Mt. Lebanon Hotel and nearby residential and  commercial buildings, killing at least 27 people, and  injuring 40 others.

“The Philippines strongly condemns this and other  dastardly attacks committed against the peace-loving  people of Iraq, who are now just a few steps away to  achieving democracy.  Despite these terrorist attacks,  the Philippines remains committed to continue  providing humanitarian assistance to Iraq,” Foreign  Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert said in a  statement, while on an official visit in New York.

“We would like to convey to the Government of Iraq and  to the families of the victims our deepest sympathies.   We pray for the safe and speedy recovery of those  injured. We are confident that the authorities will  capture those guilty of this atrocity,” she added.

“We are in constant communication with our Embassy in  Baghdad which has reported that so far there have been  no confirmed reports of Filipinos being hurt in the  blast,” the Secretary added.  “Nevertheless, we will  not rest until we have made certain that none of our  nationals were affected by the attack.” END.