World leaders condemn bomb attacks in Egypt

Leaders from around the world on Saturday sent condolences and expressed their anger and condemnation over the terrorist bombings at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, in which at least 83 people were killedand over 200 injured.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan vehemently condemned the terrorist bomb attacks. In a statement issued by his spokesman, Annan said he felt sorrow and anger to hear the news of the multiple car bombs in the Sinai peninsula, which have cruelly struck the brave Egyptian nation on its National Day.

He condemned the use of terror and indiscriminate violence against civilians, which he said no cause or belief can possibly justify.

Annan also sent his condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims and to the people and government of Egypt, as well as all other countries whose citizens have been killed or injured in the bombing.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday sent a message of condolences to his Egyptian counterpart Mohammed Hosni Mubarak to condemn the attacks.

In the message, Hu, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and himself, expressed his deep condolences to the victims who were killed in the multiple car bombs in Sharm el-Sheikh.

He also expressed his sympathy and solicitude to the families and loved ones of the victims.

The president reaffirmed that the Chinese government is firmly against any sort of terrorism and will joint hands with the international community including Egypt to promote their cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a telegram to Mubarak, expressed condolences over the attacks.

"I express my sincere condolences in connection with the tragicconsequences of the series of terrorist attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh, in which dozens of civilians, among them citizens of Egypt and other countries, were killed or wounded," Putin said in the telegram.

"By committing one grave crime after another, international terrorism is trying to make the civilized world live in a state oftotal fear and violence," Putin said.

Only the consolidated efforts of the world can be the response to the barbarian threat to mankind, he noted.

In a statement, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also condemned the attacks and called for intensified international cooperation to destroy terrorist networks.

In Brussels, European Commission President Jose Manual Barrosoexpressed the condemnation against the attacks.

"On behalf of the European Commission, I express my horror and outrage at the latest terrorist attacks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh," Barroso said in a written statement.

"I express our heartfelt sympathy and total solidarity with thevictims of these cowardly acts and their families, and with President Mubarak and the Egyptian people," said Barroso.

Barroso said the executive of the European Union(EU) " unreservedly" condemns terrorist violence,"which destroys innocentlives and cannot be justified in any circumstances."

"At this difficult time, the (European) Commission stands readyto provide any assistance it can to the Egyptian authorities," he said.

French President Jacques Chirac condemned the attacks and reiterated France's "absolute determination" to fight against this"scourge".

In a statement, Chirac voiced France's "profound solidarity" with the Egyptian people and President Mubarak and conveyed his "most sorrowful condolences" to the victims' families.

He "vigorously condemns these attacks and reaffirms France's absolute determination to fight this scourge of terrorism which nothing could justify," the statement added.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero called formore international cooperation to combat terrorism.

"We can defeat this blight that is repeatedly ravaging cities and carrying off innocent lives without the slightest explanation," he said in comments broadcast on Spanish state radio.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the bombings "indiscriminate, blind terrorism".

Source: Xinhua