Straw condemns Hassan killing
Leading politicians have lined up to condemn the murder of care worker Margaret Hassan.
A video showing her murder was delivered to the Al-Jazeera news channel over a month after she was abducted by militants.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the killing of Ms Hassan, who founded the charity CARE International and spent the last thirty years helping the poor and disadvantaged in Iraq, was “repugnant”.
“To kidnap and kill anyone is inexcusable,” he said. “But it is repugnant to commit such a crime against a woman who has spent most of her life working for the good of the people of Iraq.”
The Prime Minister Tony Blair described the killing as “abhorrent”, while Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said those responsible “deserve the utter contempt and condemnation of everyone”.
CARE International said in a statement: “We are shocked and appalled that this has been the apparent outcome of her abduction.”
It added: “CARE sincerely thanks the Iraqi people for everything they did to try to secure the safe return of Margaret Hassan and for the many expressions of support.
“Our priority now is to support Mrs Hassan’s husband, Tahseen, and those most deeply affected by this tragedy.”
