Ambassador Barry L Wells, the United States' chief diplomat in The Gambia, has stated that seven years after the terrorist attacks on the United States, the country still faces the threats of terrorists who continue to take innocent lives around the world.

He made these remarks on September 12, at the premises of the embassy of the United States, during the swearing-in ceremony of some US Peace Corps volunteers.

The US diplomat recalled that seven years ago, terrorists hijacked airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Centre in the city of New York and the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, with another plane crashing in a field in Pennsylvania as the passengers attempted to foil a third attack by overpowering the hijackers, all of them losing their lives in the end. "In all, over 3,000 people from 90 countries lost their lives to that ill-fated development," he said.  According to Mr Wells, the victims were all innocent.

He further stressed the need for people around the world to work for peace, saying that peace loving people and nations must continue to fight the tyranny of those radical fringe elements who seek to destroy humanity.

Ambassador Wells concluded by reinforcing the need for people from different nations, religions, tribes and clans to come together for the cause of peace.