UN chief deplores terrorist attack in Islamabad

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned Saturday's "heinous" terrorist attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, which killed and injured a large number of people.

"He expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this appalling attack, as well as to the Government and people of Pakistan," Ban's spokesperson said in a statement.

"No cause can justify the indiscriminate targeting of civilians," the statement added.