Pakistan with the rest of World flays London serial blasts
Pakistan Times Special Report

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemned the deadly bomb attacks on London's transport network Thursday and offered its condolences to the victims.

"We condemn the attacks in London this morning," chief government spokesman and Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said.

"We offer our heart-felt sympathies to those who suffered due to such acts," he said.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sheikh Rashid said Thursday that Pakistan condemns tragic incident of bomb blasts in London.

He said "We strongly condemn tragic incident of bomb blasts in London."

Pakistan condemns such an action and violence against civil societies.

To a question, he said Pakistan considered London's bomb blast incident during G-8 meeting as deplorable.

President Musharraf Shocked

President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Thursday strongly condemned the bomb explosions in Central London and said the act of terrorism has further strengthened the commitment to fight the menace.

In separate messages sent to Prime Minister Tony Blair, they expressed heartfelt condolences and deep sympathies on the loss of life in the bomb blasts.

"It is with a sense of profound grief that, I have learnt of the shocking news of the explosions in Central London, bringing injury, death and devastation to innocent people," President Musharraf said. "We strongly condemn this act terrorism."

He conveyed to Prime Minister Blair and the people of United Kingdom heartfelt condolences on this dreadful act and assured that the people of Pakistan stand together with the people of United Kingdom in this very trying moment.

"This incident itself has further fortified our commitment to fight against terrorism," the President said and added, "It is imperative that we stand together and further strengthen our bonds of cooperation to eliminate this menace".

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz

In his message, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said it was indeed with profound sadness that he had learnt of the shocking news of the bomb explosions causing death and devastation to innocent people.

"We strongly condemn these acts of terrorism that reinforce our common resolve to fight and eliminate this menace," he added.

"On behalf of the people of Pakistan and on my own behalf, I would like to convey to you and the people of United Kingdom our heartfelt condolences and our deep sympathies," he added.

Pakistan, like Britain, is a key ally of the United States in its global "war on terror".

It has suffered a number of attacks linked to the al-Qaeda network.

There is also a one-million-strong Pakistani community in Britain, many of whom have family members in Pakistan.

Germany

A report from Berlin says that leaders from around the world expressed shock and anger over the deadly blasts in the heart of London that killed at least 37 people and determination to crush the terrorist threat.

The Group of Eight most industrialized nations declared at their summit in Gleneagles, Scotland that the bombings were attacks on the civilized world and said they would stand together to defeat militants.

"We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks," the G8 said in a statement read by the visibly shaken summit host, British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"We are united in our resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism. This is not an attack on one nation, but on all nations and on civilized people everywhere," Blair said, flanked by the leaders of G8 nations as well as those of guest countries Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.

US President George W. Bush vowed in a separate statement to reporters in Gleneagles that the war on terrorism would continue until "an ideology of hate" had been overcome.

"They have such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks. The war on terrorism is on," Bush said.

"I was most impressed with the resolve of all the leaders in the room. Their resolve is as strong as my resolve."

China

China also condemned Thursday the deadly blasts in the heart of London that killed a number of people, saying the attacks showed more needed to be done to combat international terrorism.

"Anyone who launches terrorist attacks and causes casualties of civilians should be resolutely condemned, regardless of his or her purpose," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

The tragedy also shows that the global fight against terrorism "remains an arduous task and the international community still has a long way to go," he added in remarks carried by the China's official news agency.

Thursday's four explosions in London occurred as Chinese President Hu Jintao took part as an invited guest at the Group of Eight summit in the Scottish golf resort of Gleneagles.

NATO

NATO has called on an extraordinary meeting of its policy-making North Atlantic Council for Friday to discuss the deadly bomb attacks in London, a spokesman for the alliance said.

The meeting was called by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to discuss possible "measures" that could be taken following the attacks, said spokesman Robert Pesczel.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, NATO invoked Article Five of its charter, which says that an attack on one member country is deemed an attack against all member countries.

De Hoop Scheffer earlier condemned the "appalling attacks" that hit London, calling for "the international community and members of the Alliance to remain united in the fight against terrorism."

"I know I speak on behalf of all NATO allies when I express our sympathy for and solidarity with the British people... There can be no justification for such heinous crimes," he said.

France

France on Thursday raised its anti-terror alert to red, the second-highest rating, after a series of explosions rocked London, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced.

Vladimir Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Thursday on all countries to unite in a war against terrorism after the "inhuman" attacks in London, the Kremlin press office said.

"Whatever place such inhuman acts are perpetrated -- London, New York, Moscow or elsewhere -- they demand an unreserved condemnation and the reunification of all civilised countries in the fight against international terrorism," Putin told Prime Minister Tony Blair, according to the Kremlin.

Putin was attending the Group of Eight summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, which was overshadowed earlier Thursday by news of a series of bloody bomb attacks on London's public transport system.

Turkey

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul denounced as "terrorist" acts a series of blasts that hit London on Thursday and pledged his country's cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

"According to the information, we received, (the London attacks) are terrorist incidents," Gul told reporters in the central Turkish province of Kayseri, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Turkey, he said, "denounces all kinds of terrorism and... is always ready to cooperate against all forms of terrorism."

At least two people were killed and scores were injured in at least six explosions that hit London buses and underground train stations.

On his return to capital Ankara, Gul told reporters that there were no Turkish citizens among the victims of the attacks.

NATO SG

As condolences poured in from around the globe, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the alliance would not waver in its struggle against violent extremists.

"I condemn in the strongest terms these attacks, which underline the need for the international community and members of the Alliance to remain united in the fight against terrorism," he said.

A group calling itself the Organization of Al-Qaeda Jihad in Europe claimed responsibility for the bombings and threatened similar attacks in Denmark, Italy and other countries with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Iraqi President

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said the explosions that hit London proved that terrorism was an global plague that could strike anywhere. "What is happening in Iraq can happen in any country," Talabani, whose country is the scene of daily insurgent bombings, said.

"I'm telling my Arab brothers that terrorism today in Iraq will tomorrow affect other Arab countries, as has already happened in Yemen and Saudi Arabia."

Danish Prime Minister

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that nations "must never bow to terrorists".

Australian PM

And Australian Prime Minister John Howard, whose country also has troops in Iraq, said attacks such as those in London would not alter "the determination of free countries to do the right thing".

French President

French President Jacques Chirac, who has frequently clashed with Blair of late over EU disputes, pledged his country's "total solidarity" following the attacks.

And German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who had also recently sparred with the British leader, threw his weight behind Blair.

"We agree that the international community must do everything in its power to fight terrorism together with all the means at its disposal," he said.

European Union commission head Jose Manuel Barroso called the blasts an "attack on democracy" and the "fundamental freedoms" that are at the heart of the 25-nation bloc.

Japan

Japan, which was hit by subway attacks a decade ago, offered its full support to Britain as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed his "furious anger".

The UN

The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution condemning the deadly bombings, saying it regarded any act of terrorism as "a threat to peace and security."

The resolution "condemns without reservation the terrorist attacks in London on 7 July 2005, and regards any act of terrorism as a threat to peace and security."

Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI sent a message of outrage and mourning to the Roman Catholic primate of England, Westminster Archbishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor.

"Deeply saddened by the news of the terrorist attacks in central London, the Holy Father offers fervent prayers for the victims and for all those who mourn," said the telegram, signed by the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

"While he deplores these barbaric acts against humanity he asks you to convey to the families of the injured his spiritual closeness at this time of grief."

Spain

Spain recalled its own trauma during the Madrid train bombings, which killed 191, and strongly condemned the London blasts.

"Spain has suffered for decades from the scourge of terrorism and last March 11 fell victim to the worst attack ever carried out in Europe," Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said.

"We, Spanish people, know the suffering British people are going through today."

Israel

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said he hoped the blasts would increase vigilance against extremists.

"I hope that the free world will now be less lax in its attitude towards terrorist organizations," he said.

Nigeria

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was in London when the bombers struck, expressed solidarity in a letter to Blair, who he noted was campaigning at the G8 summit to relieve African debt and promote its development.

"This is indeed unfortunate at this time when you are doing so much to bring the world together," Obasanjo wrote.

Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called the attacks as "despicable" while Lebanese President Emile Lahoud said his country "shares Britain's pain."

Iran

And Iran "condemned the terrorist attacks that caused deaths and injuries among British citizens" and rejected the use of violence as a means of achieving political ends.

Security tightened across Europe

Governments across Europe beefed up security in airports, rail stations and public transport systems on Thursday following a series of deadly rush-hour bombings in London, officials said.

"The state of alert concerns all of Europe," Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu told reporters after a meeting of police officials and anti-terrorism experts in Rome.

From Paris to Prague, officials stepped up security in transportation hubs and rail networks after the explosions in London, which rocked both underground trains and a bus. Police said at least two people were killed and 150 injured.

A group called the Al-Qaeda Jihad in Europe claimed responsibility for the attacks in an unauthenticated Internet message, which also warned Italy and Denmark to withdraw their troops from Iraq.

Emergency sittings in EU capitals

Emergency meetings were convened in capitals across the continent to assess security threats in the wake of the attacks.

In France, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin announced that he had ordered an increase in the country's anti-terror alert level to red, the second-highest rating.

Security was especially tight around the British embassy in Paris, as well as in Paris area airports and rail stations for passengers travelling to Britain.

The red level of France's Vigipirate security plan calls for random checks in trains, patrols on high-speed trains including Eurostar trains heading to London and airspace restrictions over certain sensitive areas.

Berlin public transport officials raised their security alert level from "green" to "yellow", the mid-level rating, but noted they had no information about a possible attack in the German capital.

Call for Peace

German Finance Minister Hans Eichel called Thursday for calm on the world's financial markets in the wake of the terrorist attacks in London. "We mustn't allow the situation to get out of hand by acting wrongly or panicking," Eichel said.

"The global economy is not going to be knocked out of kilter," he continued, adding that finance ministers were in contact with their central banks in the wake of the deadly bombings that blasted the British capital earlier Thursday.

In Frankfurt, European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said he currently saw no need for the ECB or the Bank of England to intervene in the markets in the wake of the attacks, but they would be ready to act if necessary.

'Al-Qaeda' group claims

And a report from Dubai says group calling itself the Organisation of Al-Qaeda Jihad in Europe claimed Thursday's attacks in London and threatened similar ones in Italy, Denmark and other countries with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Heroic mujahedeens carried out a sacred attack in London, and here is Britain burning in fear, terror, and fright in the north, south, east and west," said a statement posted on the Internet, which could not be authenticated.

The group said the attacks were "in response to the massacres carried out by Britain in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A series of explosions ripped hit public transport in central London, bringing the British capital to a standstill and causing scores of casualties.●