Asian leaders condemn Atlanta Olympic blast<\/p>\n
TOKYO (AFP): Asian leaders yesterday condemned the fatal
\nAtlanta Olympic bombing but the decision to continue the games
\ndespite the attack received widespread support.<\/p>\n
The blast, which killed two and injured 110, also prompted
\nfears for the safety of athletes and led to heightened security
\nalerts at the Olympic Village for some nations' contingents.<\/p>\n
Australian athletes were told not to leave the official Games
\nVillage at all, except to compete, while the South Korea
\ndelegation set an 11:00 p.m. curfew for its members.<\/p>\n
Japanese athletes were instructed to return home if they had
\nfinished competing in the centennial Olympics and others were
\nadvised to stay in the Games Village as much as possible and
\nstick together outside.<\/p>\n
The Japanese transport ministry ordered domestic and foreign
\nairlines to tighten security measures in response to the bombing,
\nurging them to step up checks on baggage and air cargo, Jiji
\nPress news agency reported.<\/p>\n
Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto sent a message to
\nU.S. President Bill Clinton Sunday denouncing the attack and
\noffering Japan's condolences to the victims.<\/p>\n
Chinese Olympic team officials said their athletes were
\nshocked by the attack but were happy with security measures for
\nthe games.<\/p>\n
\"This was an appalling act of terrorism, which we condemn in
\nthe strongest possible terms,\" said Wei Jizhong, secretary
\ngeneral of the Chinese Olympic Committee.<\/p>\n
He said China's 310-member delegation to the Olympics had
\nrelayed its condolences to the victims of the bombing and their
\nfamilies but supported the decision to continue the games.<\/p>\n
\"We are very strongly in favor of this decision,\" Wei said.
\n\"Naturally, they (athletes) were very upset, but they are also
\nresolved not to give in to any fears or to let this tragedy
\naffect their participation in the games.\"<\/p>\n
Indian Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda expressed shock and
\ngrief at the blast and hoped the United States government would
\ndo everything possible to track down the culprits.<\/p>\n
\"It is disgusting that this should have happened when the
\nworld is celebrating the centenary of the Olympic Games, which
\nsymbolizes the friendship among all the people of the world,\"
\nDeve Gowda said in a statement.<\/p>\n
Deve Gowda said the decision to go ahead with the games would
\nsend a signal to the terrorists that they would not succeed in
\ndisrupting the planned activity.<\/p>\n
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed also condemned
\nthe bombing and called for a united world stand against
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
\"The blast is a barbaric and cowardly act of senseless
\nviolence,\" she said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\"Unified international measures must be taken to combat
\nterrorism.<\/p>\n
\"The people of Bangladesh have learnt of the attack with
\noutrage ... and I feel particularly close to the victims and the
\nAmerican people at this time.\"<\/p>\n
She expressed her \"deep sorrow and anguish\" for the victims
\nand offered her sympathy to their families.<\/p>\n
South Korean President Kim Young-Sam sent his condolences to
\nClinton over the bomb blast while the foreign ministry reassured
\nfamilies with relatives watching or competing in the games that
\nno South Koreans appeared to be among the casualties.<\/p>\n
Kim's spokesman said the president had also extended his
\nsympathy to victims and their families in the telegram to
\nClinton.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asian-leaders-condemn-atlanta-olympic-blast-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}