JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia yesterday denounced the terrorist attacks in India’s business capital Mumbai and expressed its condolences to the Indian government and people.
“The Kingdom has been following up the terrorist explosions in Mumbai with indignation and expresses its strong condemnation of this criminal act,” an official source said.
Arab and Islamic organizations yesterday denounced the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) condemned the attacks, saying violence had no justification. “These acts of violence contradict all human values and can be justified by nothing,” an OIC spokesman said at the group’s headquarters here.
Adnan Khalil Basha, secretary-general of the International Islamic Relief Organization in Saudi Arabia, condemned the terrorist attacks and expressed his sympathy to the people and government of India and families of victims.
“Lives of human beings are so valuable that this barbaric act should not have occurred. Nobody and no religion will endorse this act of terrorism,” Basha told Arab News. He stressed the need to stop such terrorist acts to protect humanity from going back to the age of forest law.
In Cairo, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said such “criminal and terrorist acts aggravate the vicious circle of violence and counter-violence.” He expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Indian government and people.
Egypt’s opposition Muslim Brotherhood condemned the attacks in a statement and hoped that the “perpetrators of these heinous crime would be brought to justice to receive the ultimate punishment.”
US President George W. Bush called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to convey his sympathy for the victims of the “despicable” attacks and offer US help, the White House said.
World leaders expressed anger and horror yesterday after Islamic militant attacks in Mumbai left over 125 people dead and deliberately-targeted Western hostages fearing for their lives. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sent Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh a message assuring that “the UK stands solidly with his government as they respond, and to offer all necessary help. “These outrageous attacks in Mumbai will be met with a vigorous response,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Harper expressed “deep and profound sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and injured by these heinous acts of violence, including many in Canada. “These attacks targeted people from India and around the world,” he said. “They were attacks on values we hold dear, and we share your loss.” Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari “stressed the need for taking strict measures to eradicate terrorism and extremism from the region.” Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai said: “Terrorists are especially challenging South Asia. A vigorous response to counter these terrorist challenges requires an even more intensified regional cooperation and coordination in all aspects.”
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer blasted the “despicable” raids. “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the mindless and indiscriminate terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Attacking innocent people, tourists, and patients in hospitals is despicable and cowardly,” he said in a statement.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the violence was “totally unacceptable.”
— With input from agencies
