Jordan Times
Thursday, November 10, 2005
World says blasts crime
against innocents
US offers assistance; UN Security Council to discuss bombings today
Agencies
THE DEADLY HOTEL blasts that rocked Amman Wednesday drew international
condemnation for being acts of "terror" that targeted innocent people, mostly
Jordanians.
The UN Security Council will meet Thursday to discuss the deadly bomb attacks, a
diplomat said Wednesday.
The unscheduled meeting of the 15-member council will officially focus on
"threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist activities,"
the source added.
UN chief Kofi Annan, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, has postponed a trip he had
been due to make to Jordan on Thursday after the bomb blasts in Amman, his
spokesman said.
Annan strongly condemned the attacks.
The United States strongly condemned the "cowardly" hotel blasts and offered to
help its key Middle East ally bring to justice the "terrorists" responsible for
the attacks.
"Today's terrorist bombings in Amman were cowardly attacks on innocent
Jordanians and their guests," President George W. Bush said.
"These barbaric acts again demonstrated the terrible cruelty of the terrorists
and the great toll they take on civilised society," he said in a statement.
The US president said he sent his "prayers and condolences" to the victims'
families.
"To the people of Jordan and King Abdullah, we pledge our full support in their
efforts to bring the terrorists to justice. Jordan is a key ally in the war on
terror and will have all assistance we can offer," Bush said.
Earlier, White House Spokesman Scott McClellan said Washington will offer "every
possible form of cooperation in investigating these attacks."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the terror bombings in Jordan again
show there are people who "will take innocent life without any remorse." Rice
called the bombings a "great tragedy" while hailing Jordan as a "tremendous
fighter and ally in the war on terror."
Rice said the bombings demonstrate the difficulty the nation is facing in the
war on terror.
"It looks like a very bad situation," she said.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana strongly condemned the attacks.
France and Ireland expressed shock and sympathy.
"While the facts are not yet clear, I am appalled by these reports. It seems all
too likely that this was a terrorist attack aimed at killing and maiming
entirely innocent people," said Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern.
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin offered his "deep sympathy... to the
families and all the Jordanian people," and said France condemned the attacks.
Syria also condemned the attacks and reminded Jordan of its solidarity.
"We have painfully learned the news that attacks aimed at hotels lead to the
deaths of innocent people," a Syrian foreign affairs official was quoted as
saying by the official SANA news agency.
"Syria vigorously condemns these attacks and expresses its total solidarity with
Jordan."
Palestinian flags were lowered to half mast on official buildings Thursday as
leader Mahmud Abbas denounced the blasts as a "crime against humanity and Arab
security." Abbas, who telephoned Jordanian Prime Minister Adnan Badran to offer
his condolences, declared a three-day mourning period.
Other Arab leaders and top officials also voiced sympathy with Jordan.
UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Qatar issued statements condemning the
attacks and voicing support for Jordan.