Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Zhang Deguang condemned on Friday the terror-attack in London's subway and bus systems which reports said have killed at least 52 people and injured 700 others.

"We Strongly condemn these acts of terror and extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims," Zhang said in a statement issued on Friday.

Zhang said that the attack and recent terrorist activities in Central Asia indicated that "terrorism is a common threat and a serious challenge which the international community is faced with nowadays".

"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is ready to strengthen unity with the international community, make joint efforts in fighting against terrorism, separatism and extremism and work for the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region and the world over," the statement said.

A series of bombs went off in central London during the morning rush hour on Thursday, when the G8 summit was to start in Scotland.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization founded in the Chinese economic hub of Shanghai on June 15, 2001, by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The SCO aims to promote political and economic cooperation between member countries and has set up a Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure to combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Source: Xinhua