Abu Dhabi : President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has sent a cable of condolences to Hosni Mubarek, Egyptian President, for the victims of the terrorist act which targeted the Saints Church in Alexandria.

Shaikh Khalifa stressed the UAE's firm stand with its brothers in Egypt in their distress.

Strong condemnation


The UAE has also strongly condemned the terrorist act that targeted a Christian church in Egypt's Alexandria in which tens of innocent people were killed and injured.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister said: "The UAE vehemently denounces that despicable act that led to the killing and injuring of several innocent citizens of Egypt."

Shaikh Abdullah reiterated solidarity with Egypt, saying: “The UAE will stand by Egypt in passing through these difficult times. The UAE rejects terrorism in all its forms and totally condemns targeting of places of worship."

Shaikh Abdullah praised the religious tolerance in Egypt and the amity among followers of different beliefs observed there for thousands of years.

He urged the Egyptian people to disavow those who attempt to sow sedition and division and to work together, to promote their country's best interests and to unite in the fight against terrorism which targets all, regardless of their ethnic background, creed or religious beliefs.

"Such terrorist acts are yet another evidence that concerted international efforts are needed to confront and combat terrorism, no matter where it comes from or what its motives are," he state.

- WAM

Arab world united in condemning attack

The Arab world was united in it condemnation of the deadly bombing, with both Qatar and Kuwait conveying their condolences to the families of the victims and Egypt.

Saudi Arabia too expressed its condolences for the victims, wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

Condemning the attack, Saudi Arabia said the "criminal act is neither acceptable by Islam nor by global ethics."

The Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa called on "Copts and Muslims, to join their efforts in order to be able to face the dangers that aim at undermining Egypt's security and stability," adding that this is the only way to confront those "evil attempts."

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) severely criticised "the criminal and terrorist act which targeted civilians who were performing their religious rituals".

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary General of the OIC, send his condolences to Egyptians and the families of the victims.

He urged them "to disassociate themselves from attempts to instigate sedition or spread division among the people which some want to implant among them."

An official Syrian source said his country condemns such "terrorist crimes, which targets national unity and religious pluralism in neighbouring Egypt as well as other Arab countries.

"Syria will stand by Egypt in confronting and combating terrorism, and all that harms Egypt's national unity," the source added.

Al Azhar, the country's highest Islamic authority, condemned the attack, saying it "could not be carried by Egyptians."

"It is a foreign crime implemented on Egyptian land," Ahmad Al Tayeb, head of Al Azhar, told state TV.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group, condemned the "suspicious" blast, which "targets the sanctity and security of the country."

- Compiled from agencies