Brasília, March 23, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Relations released an official note today in which the country decries the assassination of the spiritual leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Sheik Ahmed Yassin. "Brazil deplores the recent acts and retaliatory reactions that set Israelis and Palestinians against one another and urges moderation and the resumption of negotiations on the warring parties, so that the regrettable rekindling of violence doesn't harm the prospects for peace in the region," says the text.

Yassin was killed yesterday by Israeli troops in front of the Gaza mosque. An Israeli helicopter fired three missiles at the Hamas spiritual leader after his morning prayers.

Translator: David Silberstein