Jakarta bombing draws int'l defiance, condemnation
Jakarta bombing draws int'l defiance, condemnation
Agencies
Jakarta/Washington
The United States and the United Nations strongly condemned on
Thursday (Friday Jakarta time) the bomb attack outside the
Australian Embassy in Indonesia.
U.S. President George W. Bush condemned the bombing and
offered his sympathies to the victims' families, White House
spokesman Scott McClellan said.
"This is yet another attack against civilized people
everywhere. We condemn this outrageous act," McClellan added as
Bush courted voters in Pennsylvania.
The U.S. State Department said Washington was prepared to
assist the governments of Indonesia and Australia "in any way we
can", and hoped the culprits would be brought to justice.
The attack "only strengthens our resolve to fight all forms of
international terrorism", said department spokesman Richard
Boucher in a press release, which was made available to The
Jakarta Post on Friday by the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was "horrified" by the attack,
his spokesman said in a statement, adding: "The secretary-general
reiterates his condemnation of all terrorist acts."
Russia voiced outrage at the deadly car bombing, the Russian
foreign ministry said on Thursday.
"Russia decisively condemns the terrorist act in Indonesia and
offers deep sympathy to the families of those killed and
wounded," the ministry said in a statement.
"This act of international terrorism is of the same order as
the recent tragic events in Russia and is yet another proof that
terrorists hold nothing sacred in striving for their goals," the
statement read.
China expressed its condolences to Indonesia on Friday after
nine people were killed and 180 injured in the bomb attack
outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, state media said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhoxing conveyed the message to
his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda, Xinhua news agency
said.
"The Chinese government firmly supports the Indonesian
government's efforts to fight terrorism and maintain national
stability," Li said.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong condemned on Thursday
the deadly car bombing in Jakarta and conveyed his condolences
and sympathies to all the victims and their families.
"We strongly condemn these acts of violence. Singapore will
fully support Indonesia ... to apprehend and bring to justice the
perpetrators of these heinous acts," Lee said in a letter sent to
Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri. A copy of the letter
was sent to the Post by the Singaporean Embassy in Jakarta.
Malaysia condemned on Friday condemned the bombing and hoped
that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
"We condemn this inhumane attack which has resulted in the
death and injury of many innocent civilians," Foreign Minister
Syed Hamid Albar said in a statement sent to the official Bernama
news agency.
Iran also condemned the car bombing in Jakarta, Iranian media
reported on Friday.
"This incident is unjustifiable and we want international
cooperation to uproot terrorism," the Iranian foreign ministry
spokesman, Hamid Reza Asefi, said.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran sympathizes with the Australian
families of the victims and also the Indonesian government and
nation," he added.