SA condemns London blasts
8 July 2005
South Africa joined countries around the world in condemning the bomb blasts that rocked the British capital on Thursday.
President Thabo Mbeki, the government and opposition parties were united in their condemnation of the attacks, extending their condolences to the people of Britain and all those affected by the explosions.
In what was described as a co-ordinated attack, a series of four bomb blasts hit the London Underground and buses between 9am and 11am (UK time) on Thursday morning.
According to official British estimates on Friday morning, the toll from the explosions stood at at least 37 people dead and scores more wounded.
The attacks coincided with the first full day of the G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, and came a day after the announcement of London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.
Mbeki, SA govt condemn blasts
"As South Africa, we join the rest of the international community in condemning any acts of terrorism," Mbeki's spokesperson, Bheki Khumalo, said on Thursday from Gleneagles, where Mbeki is attending the summit of the Group of Eight developed nations.
"We believe there is no reason for anyone to resort to these kinds of things and kill innocent people," Khumalo said. "The sanctity of human life is something all of us must hold very dearly."
Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said in a statement: "Quite clearly these constitute acts of terrorism and must be condemned in the strongest terms and without equivocation by the
international community.
"Attacks against civilians can never be justified under any circumstances."
Pahad said the South African government extended "its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Great Britain, and in particular the families of those who lost their loved ones, while wishing those wounded a speedy recovery.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, hosting the G8 leaders in Gleneagles, Scotland, left the summit following the blasts to return to London. He called the attacks "barbaric."
"There are obviously casualties, people who have died and people who are seriously injured," Blair said in a live televised statement from Gleneagles.
The leaders of the G8 nations and other leaders attending the summit, including Mbeki, released a statement which echoed Blair's words.
"We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks," the statement read. "We send our profound condolences to the victims and their families.
"We are united in
our resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism that is not an attack on one nation, but on all nations and on civilised people everywhere."
SA opposition parties condemn blasts
South Africa's opposition political parties joined the SA government on Thursday in condemning the attacks.
Acting Democratic Alliance leader Douglas Gibson told the SA Press Association (Sapa) that while it was still too early to speculate about who might have been responsible, "we are certain that the whole world will unite in rejecting this latest act of terrorism and violence.
"Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of those who were killed. We wish the injured a speedy recovery."
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille told Sapa that violence was no way of solving the world's problems, and called on the leaders of the G8 to work on ways to combat global poverty, saying that development and peace "walk hand in hand".
United
Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa told Sapa that the blasts could serve to unite African leaders against terrorism. "There is no longer any justification for African leaders to just fold their arms anymore," Holomisa said. "[The blasts] might force them to close ranks."
Holomisa added that he believed the attacks were timed to embarrass the G8 meeting in Gleneagles.
"From a South African perspective we feel the blasts are defeating the African agenda," Holomisa told Sapa.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
| 
