TELEGRAM FOR DEATHS OF SPANISH INTELLIGENCE AGENTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 1, 2003 (VIS) - Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, sent a telegram of condolence on behalf of the Holy Father to Jose Maria Aznar, president of the Spanish government, for the terrorist attack on Saturday, November 29 in Iraq in which seven Spanish intelligence agents died:

'Upon learning of the sad news of the abominable terrorist attack in the Iraqi locality of Swaira, where seven Spaniards died while fulfilling generously their mission of peace, His Holiness John Paul II reiterates his firmest reproach for this new act of unjustifiable violence, in addition to so many cruel gestures perpetrated in that tormented nations.

'In his prayer, the Pope asks the Lord for the eternal repose of the souls of the victims and assures his closeness to the families, afflicted by great sorrow as they mourn the loss of their loved ones, and conveys his deepest condolences to you.

'In addition, the Holy Father invites everyone to pray and to work so that in that region of the world which is so distressed, conditions of normalcy and peace may be achieved as soon as possible.'

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