[1] Condemning terrorism as one of the most serious threats to peace and security, the council called on countries to prosecute or extradite anyone supporting terrorist acts or participating in the planning of such schemes.

Some approaches to be studied included "more effective procedures considered to be appropriate for bringing them to justice through prosecution or extradition," freezing financial assets, travel restrictions and arms embargoes.

The text called on countries to prevent and punish "criminal acts, including against civilians, committed with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury, or taking of hostages, with the purpose to provoke a state of terror in the general public or in a group of persons or particular persons, intimidate a population or compel a government or an international organization to do or to abstain from doing any act.

"[3] Such acts were "under no circumstances justifiable by considerations of a political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other similar nature," according to the council.

The resolution came days after terrorist attacks in Pakistan, Egypt, and the beheading of a British hostage Kenneth Bigley in Iraq, all of which were considered the work of Al-Qaeda.