World leaders reacted with horror and outrage today after a bomb on the Indonesian island of Bali with most blaming terrorism for thebloodshed.
In Australia, which is believed to have lost many nationals inthe explosion yesterday, prime minister Mr John Howard said nationsmust keep up the battle against terror in all its forms.
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"The indiscriminate, brutal and despicable way in which liveshave been taken away on this occasion by an act of barbarity will Iknow deeply shock all Australians," Mr Howard said.
"The war against terrorism must go on with unrelenting vigourand an unconditional commitment," he said.
The United States, which has spearheaded a global anti-terrorcampaign since the September 11 attacks last year, said from itsJakarta embassy that it "condemns in the strongest possible termsthis despicable act of terror."
It added: "The United States has offered all appropriateassistance to the government of Indonesia to see that thoseresponsible for this cowardly act face justice."
A spokesman for British prime minister, Mr Tony Blair said: "Theprime minister is horrified by the explosions in Bali overnight.
"He completely and utterly condemns this appalling terroristact. His sympathies are with the families of the dead and injured."
British foreign secretary Mr Jack Straw said the attack, whichappears to have claimed mostly the lives of foreign night-clubbers,had been carried out by "the most evil and most perverted people."
Mr Straw stopped short of blaming Osama bin Laden's al-Qaedanetwork but said: "What is palpable is that it is a terroristincident which has been perpetrated by very extreme uncaringpeople."
In Germany, where Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's loud protestagainst US plans to attack Iraq as part of its anti-terror campaignhelped propel him to re-election last month, his foreign ministersaid Berlin was "shocked and horrified by the terrible events."
"We cannot rule out that Germans were also killed," JoschkaFischer said. "If the fears that this was a targeted attack arerealized, those responsible must be identified and brought tojustice."
Russian President Vladimir Putin, also opposed to a US attack onBaghdad, said in a message to Australia's prime minister:"International terrorism again and again presents the civilisedcommunity with frightening lessons."
Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman Kamran Niaz did nothesitate to blame terror for the carnage, saying: "The government ofPakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attack."
AFP