World leaders condemn Delhi blasts

United States, Britain and Pakistan were among a host of nations which condemned Saturday's deadly bomb blasts in New Delhi, terming it as barbaric and a criminal act of terrorism.

"We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. It is a cowardly act of violence and we hope that the perpetrators are swiftly identified and brought to justice," a senior State Department official told PTI in Washington.

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While British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a letter of condolence to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the attacks were yet another example of terrorists' cynical and callous disregard for human life.

Condemning the blasts in strongest possible terms, the European Union said, "nothing will justify terrorism, which is an aggression against universal values that we share without distinction of language, culture or religion."   

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EU's Foreign policy chief Javier Solana in a statement said, "the perpetrators of these heinous crimes must and will be brought to justice."

Pakistan termed the serial blasts as "a criminal act of terrorism".

"The people and government of Pakistan are shocked at this barbaric act and express deep sympathy with the families of the  victims. We hope that a thorough investigation will be carried out and the perpetrators of this act of terrorism will be brought to justice," a Pakistan Foreign Office statement said.

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Bangladesh Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan said the blasts were a most unfortunate, cowardly and heinous act. No human being or nation can tolerate it."

Maldives condemned the attacks and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.     

"We have strongly condemned the bombings and sent our sympathies to the families affected by this," Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed said.

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South African President Thabo Mbeki in a message to President A P J Abdul Kalam expressed condolences on behalf of his government and the people.

"The South African government joins the international community in condemning these heinous acts of terrorism, particularly in a country that espouses the principles of democracy and freedom of its people," he said.