American states express solidarity with France, Nigeria

Lagos - The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) has condemned the ongoing terror attacks in Nigeria. In a statement following a just-ended meeting, OAS also today approved a declaration in support of the French people and sent its condolences to the country and the families affected by the violent acts that took place in Paris last week, that led to the deaths of 17 people in the attack on the weekly “Charlie Hebdo” and the taking of hostages in a kosher supermarket. “In their addresses, the representatives of the member states in the Permanent Council expressed on behalf of their governments their solidarity with the people and Government of France, and also condemned the recent attack against the civilian population in Nigeria,” read a statement. Delegates from such countries as Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Haiti, Paraguay, Dominica, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Mexico, the United States, Venezuela, Canada, Uruguay, El Salvador, Jamaica, Suriname, The Bahamas, Brazil, Honduras, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Panama attended. The attacks in France coincided with the Boko Haram intensifying its onslaught against civilians in Nigeria, where 2 000 people have reportedly been killed since the beginning of the year.