Vladimir Putin and the pope joined a chorus of condemnation Tuesday from across the globe over what the Russian leader called the “barbaric” bomb attack that killed three and wounded more than 150 at the Boston Marathon.
Herewith some of the main reactions from around the world:
– Pope Francis expressed his condolences over the “senseless tragedy.”
– Putin sent US President Barack Obama a message of condolence in which he condemned “this barbaric crime.”
– German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was “horrified” and that “nothing justifies such a malicious attack on people attending a peaceful sporting event.”
– In Paris, President Francois Hollande voiced “France’s complete solidarity with the American authorities and people” following the deadly blasts at Monday’s race.
– Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti sent a message to Obama condemning the “cowardly” attack. “I am sure that even in these painful circumstances, America will know how to react by reaffirming the fundamental values of its great civilization,” he said.
– President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan said: “Having suffered from terrorist attacks and civilian casualties for years, our people feel better the pain and suffering arising from such incidents.”
– Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attack targeted “not only the American people but also the prosperity of all peoples who wish to live in peace and harmony”.
– Iran also strongly condemned the twin bomb blasts. “No one should under any circumstances support terrorism and extremism, whether it be in the Middle East or the United States,” said foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast.
– Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong expressed his condolences in a letter to the US President. “There is no place in the world for such senseless violence,” he wrote.
– European Union and NATO leaders were also swift to condemn the atrocity, with EU foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton saying the attacks, “deliberately targeting men, women and children,” were “reprehensible”. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he was “deeply shocked.”
– Distance running greats Haile Gebrselassie and Paula Radcliffe were among those stunned by the twin blasts. “There are some very sick people out there. Who would do something like this?” asked Radcliffe, the fastest women’s marathon runner in history, on Twitter.
Ethiopia’s Gebrselassie said: “Running brings people together, but what just happened in Boston is terrible.”
– Paris Marathon organiser Joel Laine, whose own marathon passed off peacefully just over a week ago with 40,000 runners taking part, said the Boston bombs were “odious acts which one cannot quantify”.
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