World leaders react sharply

Paris attacks

AFP, PARIS: Mourners across the globe reacted to the attacks in Paris with tears, shows of solidarity and condemnations of those who carried out the assaults that left at least 128 dead. Among politicians, there were loud calls for the world to ratchet up the fight against terrorism.
Bouquets, candles and messages of condolence were laid at French embassies worldwide. Buildings ranging from the Sydney Opera House in Australia to One World Trade Center in New York were lit up in the colours of the French flag. In Madrid and Barcelona, hundreds stood for a minute’s silence outside city hall.
“We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberte, egalite, fraternite, are not just the values French people share, but we share,” said US President Barack Obama, citing France’s national motto.
The coordinated killings reverberated around the world after the shootings by gunmen shouting “Allahu akbar”, explosions and a hostage-taking at a popular concert venue on Friday in the French capital.
Queen Elizabeth II said she and her spouse Prince Philip were “deeply shocked,” and British Prime Minister David Cameron offered Britain’s help.
Indian Premier Narendra Modi called the attacks “anguishing and dreadful” and Hassan Rouhani of Iran condemned the attacks as “crimes against humanity.”
“We share the sadness and the pain of the French people,” said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. “The Paris tragedy requires of us all to unite in the fight against extremism.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping said: “In these tragic times for the French people, I want... to condemn in the strongest ways this barbarous act.”
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a “blessed attack on... Crusader France,” which included an assault on the national sports stadium and the Bataclan concert hall.
France is part of a US-led coalition conducting an air war against IS in Syria and Iraq, where IS declared a caliphate last year after seizing swathes of both countries. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that French policy had contributed to the “spread of terrorism” that culminated in the Paris attacks.
“The terrorist attacks that targeted the French capital Paris cannot be separated from what happened in the Lebanese capital Beirut lately and from what has been happening in Syria for the past five years and in other areas,” he said.
The outpouring of support for France generated massive amounts of posts on social media, with the hastags #prayforparis and #jesuisparis going viral.
One user, @emilymiddlemas_ , wrote “I am so heart broken! All my love and prayers go out to everyone affected by this horrible attack, when will this stop.”
Mourners were also sharing a peace symbol that includes Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower.
Pope Francis expressed his profound distress and solidarity with the casualties. “There cannot be justification, religious or human” for the attacks, he said.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta: “Our common humanity has been attacked in Paris by terrorists, and innocent civilians murdered in cold
blood.”
Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s president: “Terrorism is our common enemy.”
The grand imam of the prestigious Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo called the attacks “despicable” adding “it is time for the whole world to confront this monster.”
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said: “The terrorists will defeat us...if they force us to abandon our values, and lead us to a fortified Europe inhabited by fearful peoples.”
Meanwhile Saudi Arabia led Gulf Arab states Saturday in condemning the gun and bomb attacks in Paris that killed at least 128 people and injured 180.
“I wanted to express our condolences to the government and people of France for the heinous terrorist attacks that took place yesterday, which are in violation and contravention of all ethics, morals and religions,” Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said.
The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, also condemned Friday night’s attacks as “heinous crimes” and said the UAE would “spare no effort... to fight terrorism in all its forms,” state news agency WAM reported.
The Islamic State group claimed the attacks in an online statement Saturday.
The top Sunni Muslim religious authority in the oil-rich kingdom, the council of senior ulemas, said the attacks with also injured dozens were “contrary to Islam and its principles”.
It also claimed IS was “the product of the regime” of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad—who earlier had said “mistaken (French) policies... had contributed to the spread of terrorism”.
The Qatari foreign ministry condemned the “armed attacks and bombings” in a statement cited by official agency QNA, saying they “contradict all moral and humanitarian principles and values”.
There were also condemnations from Bahrain and Kuwait, and from Abdellatif Zayani, head of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which also includes Oman.
The Saudi foreign minister made his remarks in Vienna where he is attending international talks aimed at finding a solution to end the four year war in Syria, where IS holds swathes of territory.

World leaders react sharply

Paris attacks

AFP, PARIS: Mourners across the globe reacted to the attacks in Paris with tears, shows of solidarity and condemnations of those who carried out the assaults that left at least 128 dead. Among politicians, there were loud calls for the world to ratchet up the fight against terrorism. Bouquets, candles and messages of condolence were laid at French embassies worldwide. Buildings ranging from the Sydney Opera House in Australia to One World Trade Center in New York were lit up in the colours of the French flag. In Madrid and Barcelona, hundreds stood for a minutes silence outside city hall. We are reminded in this time of tragedy that the bonds of liberte, egalite, fraternite, are not just the values French people share, but we share, said US President Barack Obama, citing Frances national motto. The coordinated killings reverberated around the world after the shootings by gunmen shouting Allahu akbar, explosions and a hostage-taking at a popular concert venue on Friday in the French capital. Queen Elizabeth II said she and her spouse Prince Philip were deeply shocked, and British Prime Minister David Cameron offered Britains help. Indian Premier Narendra Modi called the attacks anguishing and dreadful and Hassan Rouhani of Iran condemned the attacks as crimes against humanity. We share the sadness and the pain of the French people, said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. The Paris tragedy requires of us all to unite in the fight against extremism. Chinese President Xi Jinping said: In these tragic times for the French people, I want... to condemn in the strongest ways this barbarous act. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a blessed attack on... Crusader France, which included an assault on the national sports stadium and the Bataclan concert hall. France is part of a US-led coalition conducting an air war against IS in Syria and Iraq, where IS declared a caliphate last year after seizing swathes of both countries. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said that French policy had contributed to the spread of terrorism that culminated in the Paris attacks. The terrorist attacks that targeted the French capital Paris cannot be separated from what happened in the Lebanese capital Beirut lately and from what has been happening in Syria for the past five years and in other areas, he said. The outpouring of support for France generated massive amounts of posts on social media, with the hastags #prayforparis and #jesuisparis going viral. One user, @emilymiddlemas_ , wrote I am so heart broken! All my love and prayers go out to everyone affected by this horrible attack, when will this stop. Mourners were also sharing a peace symbol that includes Pariss iconic Eiffel Tower. Pope Francis expressed his profound distress and solidarity with the casualties. There cannot be justification, religious or human for the attacks, he said. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta: Our common humanity has been attacked in Paris by terrorists, and innocent civilians murdered in cold blood. Petro Poroshenko, Ukraines president: Terrorism is our common enemy. The grand imam of the prestigious Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo called the attacks despicable adding it is time for the whole world to confront this monster. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said: The terrorists will defeat us...if they force us to abandon our values, and lead us to a fortified Europe inhabited by fearful peoples. Meanwhile Saudi Arabia led Gulf Arab states Saturday in condemning the gun and bomb attacks in Paris that killed at least 128 people and injured 180. I wanted to express our condolences to the government and people of France for the heinous terrorist attacks that took place yesterday, which are in violation and contravention of all ethics, morals and religions, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said. The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, also condemned Friday nights attacks as heinous crimes and said the UAE would spare no effort... to fight terrorism in all its forms, state news agency WAM reported. The Islamic State group claimed the attacks in an online statement Saturday. The top Sunni Muslim religious authority in the oil-rich kingdom, the council of senior ulemas, said the attacks with also injured dozens were contrary to Islam and its principles. It also claimed IS was the product of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assadwho earlier had said mistaken (French) policies... had contributed to the spread of terrorism. The Qatari foreign ministry condemned the armed attacks and bombings in a statement cited by official agency QNA, saying they contradict all moral and humanitarian principles and values. There were also condemnations from Bahrain and Kuwait, and from Abdellatif Zayani, head of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which also includes Oman. The Saudi foreign minister made his remarks in Vienna where he is attending international talks aimed at finding a solution to end the four year war in Syria, where IS holds swathes of territory.