(AsiaNews/Agencies) – The day after attacks in London left at least 37 people dead and some 700 wounded, Asian leaders—from China to Malaysia and the MidEast—expressed their revulsion at the barbaric act, saying that it requires a united and decisive response from every civilised country. They vowed closer cooperation in the fight against terrorism, something many of them are already facing on a daily basis.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation and the victim of three bloody attacks by Islamic militants since 2002, condemned in no uncertain terms the London bombings.
“We are shocked by these barbaric attacks that claimed the lives of so many innocent civilians,” said Yuri Thamrin, a Foreign Ministry spokesman in Jakarta. “We condemn them entirely.”
Stressing the need for all countries to stand and face the terror threat and work together to overcome it, Iraq's Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari condemned what he called “the disgraceful terrorist action in London”.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi stated that Iran disapproved of the use of terror, which is not an appropriate means to achieve any goal.
Ayatollah Mohammad Emami-Kashani said that these attacks are “barbaric acts that have nothing to do with Islam, nor with humanity.”
In Syria, President Assad said: “On behalf of the Syrian people and myself, we denounce these awful actions that we condemn and strongly refuse.”
For its part, China promised to work more closely with other governments in fighting 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.
Mr Liu said the tragedy showed the global fight against terrorism “remains an arduous task and the international community still has a long way to go”.
“We do not know who committed this deadly and terrible act but we must make sure that their side does not win. All countries must work together against terrorism,” said Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Mr Badawi urged Islamic countries to reject violence, saying terrorist acts “do not bring solutions to problems faced” by Muslims worldwide.
His country currently chairs the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, a former British colony, has pledged protection for British diplomats and nationals, adding that security would be upgraded in the wake of the London bombings.
“I am shocked and saddened by what has happened in London,” Tsang said today. “We feel quite clearly that terrorism is the enemy of the civilised world and I feel very much aggrieved.
The government of the Philippines, which is still in the process of determining whether any Filipino national was among the victims, harshly condemned the attacks, calling the terrorists cowards.
For Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, yesterday’s events have bolstered their country’s resolve to fight terrorism. Musharraf said “that it was with deep sorrow that I learnt about the blasts in central London, that wrought havoc and killing innocent people”.
The President of Sri Lanka, Chandrika Kumaratunga, stated that she was shocked and dismayed.
Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon declared that these attacks are a reminder that the threat of international terrorism is always present.
For Indian Prime Minister Sri Manmohan Singh, what happened is a demonstration that international terrorism knows no borders.
