JEDDAH, 31 May 2004 — A chorus of international condemnation has greeted Saturday’s terrorist attacks in Alkhobar.
French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said in Paris that his country would stand by Saudi Arabia in the wake of the deadly attack. In a message to his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Barnier condemned the “acts of violence and terrorism” that unfolded in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.
“At this difficult time, France will remain more than ever at Saudi Arabia’s side in the mobilization necessary to fight against terrorism,” Barnier said, conveying the country’s condolences to the families of the victims.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher called to “express condemnation by Egypt of this terrorist act which cost the lives of several innocent civilians, including an Egyptian child,” his ministry said.
Maher “stressed the need to build a common front to put an end to terrorist acts which aim to undermine stability and security and to terrorize the innocent.”
Syria slammed the attacks as “criminal and contrary to human and religious values.” Syrian newspapers Tishrin and Al-Baath quoted Information Minister Ahmad Al-Hassan as saying, “Syria stands at the side of Saudi Arabia in the struggle against these terrorist acts which aim to undermine the Kingdom’s security and stability.”
The Jordanian government hailed the operation carried out by Saudi security forces to end the hostage crisis, and said two Jordanians were among the rescued people.
The Jordanian media called for a real effort to eradicate terrorists who have “hijacked religion” to achieve their own objectives. “We feel relief over the Saudi security forces’ success in freeing the hostages and countering the terrorists’ objectives, which are in violation of all religious values as well as international law and principles of humanity,” said Minister of State Asma Khader.
She said the rescued Jordanians, Hazem Damen and Nizar Hejazine, were evacuated and “in good health”. Khader earlier issued a statement denouncing the attacks and expressing sympathy with the Saudi government and people.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, which groups Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar, also denounced the attack.
“GCC countries are in solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its struggle against terrorism,” a statement said. “The security of the GCC countries is indivisible, and terrorism has become an international scourge which threatens world security and stability, necessitating the redoubling of international efforts in the struggle” against terror, it added.
Kuwait said it strongly “condemns and deplores the criminal terrorist attack and expresses regret over the killing of innocent people.”
In the UAE, Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamdan ibn Zayed Al-Nahyan said his country stood firmly with Riyadh. The Emirates “supports Saudi Arabia with force in its war against the gangs of criminals, which provoke the spilling of innocent blood ... and which disrupt security and stability,” said Sheikh Hamdan, cited by the official WAM news agency.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry “condemned the criminal attacks and the hostage-taking which are terrorist acts in contravention of Islam,” the state news agency QNA reported.
Bahrain expressed similar views against “the ignoble terrorist acts” in Alkhobar, and said Manama “supports Saudi Arabia ... which plays a central role in maintaining security and stability in the region.”
Oman denounced the attack and urged the international community to stand as one in the face of terrorism.
The Organization of the Islamic Conference, which groups 57 Muslim countries, “strongly condemned” the attack and expressed its solidarity with the Kingdom.
Abdelouahed Belkeziz, the OIC secretary-general, conveyed his condolences and sympathy to the Saudi leadership.
The Muslim World League called the Alkhobar attacks “blatant criminal acts” carried out by a “deviant group”.
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo expressed her anger at the attack and ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs to do all they can to assist the victims and their families.
“These attacks should remind us that terrorism knows no boundaries and respects neither race nor creed,” she said. “We have to always remain vigilant.”
— Additional input by Abdul Jalil Mustafa in Amman and agencies
