United Nations: Asserting that terrorism cannot be justified under any circumstances, the UN Security Council today (Oct 8, 2004) unanimously voted a resolution asking all countries not to give safe haven to terrorists and prosecute any person helping financing, planning or commissioning of terror acts.

Pakistan had initially objected to the formulation that "terrorism is justified under no circumstances, political or religious," but finally supported the resolution.

The 15-member Council asked all States to prosecute any person who helps in financing, planning, preparing or commissioning terror acts.

The Russian drafted resolution also establishes a working group comprising all Council members to make recommendation on practical measures to be imposed on individuals, groups and entities involved with terrorist activities other than those associated with al-Qaeda and Taliban.

The provision assume significance in the background of the recent terrorist attack on a Russian school which left scores, including a large number of children, dead.

It also seeks establishing an international fund to compensate victims of terrorist acts. The fund, it suggests, be financed through voluntary contributions and assets seized from terrorist organizations, their members and sponsors.

The resolution says that "criminal acts," including against civilians, committed to cause death or serious bodily harm, or taking of hostages to compel a Government or anyone from doing or abstain from doing any act also constitutes terrorism and are not justified under any circumstance.

It also called on international, regional and sub regional organisations to strengthen cooperation in fighting terrorism and intensify their interaction with the United Nations on the issue.

The resolution also calls for expediting the adoption by consensus the conventions on international terrorism and for suppression of acts of nuclear terrorism.