|
Egypt
Bombings Draw World Condemnation
 |
|
"Together we will confront and defeat this scourge that knows no boundary and respects no creed," Rice said.
|
WORLD
CAPITAL, July 23, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The
deadly car bombings that rocked the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm
El-Sheikh Saturday, July 23, drew immediate condemnation from across
the globe.
US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice condemned the
"senseless" bombings and vowed to work with Cairo to combat
terrorism, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
At
least 88 people were killed, including eight foreigners, and 200
others wounded in a string of bomb attacks that hit Egypt's "city
of peace".
"I
condemn the horrific terrorist bombings in Sharm El-Sheikh, our
thoughts and prayers are with the families and innocent victims from
many nations who suffered in this senseless attack," said Rice in
a brief statement.
Rice,
in Israel ahead of a visit to the West Bank to meet Palestinian
leaders, said she had spoken with her Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul
Gheit.
"At
this difficult time of testing, the United States stands with our
friend and ally Egypt. Together we will confront and defeat this
scourge that knows no boundary and respects no creed," she said.
The
attacks on the popular Sinai resort at the peak of the tourist season
were the deadliest in Egypt in eight years and officials feared the
death toll could rise further.
The
crucial tourism sector in Egypt is still recovering from the October
2004 bombings that targeted the Hilton hotel in Taba as well as two
other resort camps in Nuweiba, killing 34 people, including Israelis.
"Sorrow
and Anger"
UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan has reacted with "sorrow and
anger" to the Sharm bombings, a UN official said early Saturday.
"The
secretary general has reacted with sorrow and anger to the news of the
multiple car bombs in the Sinai peninsula, which have cruelly struck
the brave Egyptian nation on its National Day," an unnamed UN
spokesman said in a statement.
"Once
again, in this tragic month, he condemns the use of terror and
indiscriminate violence against civilians, which no cause or belief
can possibly justify," added the spokesman.
The
official said Annan was sending his condolences to the families and
loved ones of the victims, the people and government of Egypt and
leaders of all other countries whose citizens have been killed or
injured in the attacks.
Shock
The
Palestinian Authority also issued a swift condemnation of the
bombings.
"We
firmly condemn these attacks and offer our condolences to the
government and people of Egypt, and our best wishes for the swift
recovery of the wounded," chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said in a
short statement.
Russia
also joined the condemnation chorus, sending its condolences to the
families of the victims.
"We
strongly condemn this criminal act and hope that the terrorists will
be found and severely punished," the foreign ministry said in a
statement posted on its Web site.
"The
Russian foreign ministry expresses its deep sympathy for the relatives
and friends of the victims," it added.
Japan,
meanwhile, voiced shock over the bombing spree, saying extremist
attacks could never be justified.
"The
government of Japan is gravely shocked by the serial explosions",
said foreign ministry press secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima.
"Terrorism
cannot be justified for any reason, and the government of Japan firmly
condemns atrocious terrorism that victimizes many innocent
people," he said in a statement.
So
far there have been no reports of any Russian or Japanese among the
dead or injured.
Israeli
Help
In
a related development, Israel offered to send army rescue teams to
Sharm El-Sheikh to help emergency crews deal with the carnage caused
by the wave of bombings.
Specialist
units had been put on standby for deployment to the Sinai peninsula,
long a favorite haunt for Israeli holidaymakers, Israeli military
sources said.
At
least one Israeli was among the more than 200 people wounded in the
blasts but the foreign ministry said there were no immediate plans to
order the evacuation of the 10,000 nationals believed to be
vacationing in Sinai resorts at the peak of the summer holiday season.
Despite
repeated warnings from the authorities large numbers of Israelis
continue to make the short trip across Israel's southern border.
Last
month Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak told Israel's largest
circulation daily Yediot Aharonot that security forces had
smashed a militant cell that was planning to attack Israeli
holidaymakers in the Sinai.
"Two
of the cell members were killed in clashes with the Egyptian security
forces, and two others were captured," Mubarak said in the June
21 interview.
"We
have no interest in Israelis getting hurt, and we are doing the
maximum to prevent terrorist operations."
|
