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World leaders condemn Marriott blast

* Call for continued fight against extremism

PARIS: World leaders on Sunday condemned the suicide bombing at the Marriott Hotel, using it as a rallying call for continued fighting against extremism.

United States President George W Bush said in a statement, “The attack is a reminder of the ongoing threat faced by Pakistan, the US and all those who stand against violent extremism.” He vowed to fully support the government of Pakistan and the Pakistani people. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said, “This latest bombing attack in Islamabad is yet another shocking and disgraceful attack without justification. It should be deplored by the entire international community.”

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero extended his “deepest condolences to the families of the victims of this bloody attack”, said a foreign ministry statement. Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini also condemned the attack, and underlined the need to “reinforce international collaboration, in particular with the countries of the region to wipe out terrorism”. Democrat White House hopeful Barack Obama said the attack “demonstrates the grave and urgent threat that Al Qaeda and its affiliates pose to the United States, to Pakistan, and to the security of all nations”. His Republican rival John McCain described the attack as an ‘outrageous act of violence’ that “must serve to deepen the resolve of Americans and Pakistanis alike to confront terrorist groups”.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai called for an ‘honest struggle’ to defeat terrorism. “As long as this phenomenon is active in the region, terror, horror and explosions will continue,” he said. A statement issued by UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon described the bombing as a ‘heinous terrorist attack’. He expressed his “heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan”.

Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg denounced the bombing, which claimed the life of Prague’s recently appointed ambassador to Pakistan, Ivo Zdarek. “His death shows that the terrorists are trying to hit our most valuable spots. We will always stand up to evil and combat it,” said Schwarzenberg. afp

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