Blasts draw all-round criticism

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, May 14: The world has responded with shock and alarm at the loss of innocent lives in the Jaipur serial blasts of Tuesday evening. Condemnations have poured in from several countries, including the US, UK, France, Canada, Israel and Iran.

In New Delhi, US ambassador to India David Mulford on Wednesday called on foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon with a condolence message. The envoy offered assistance to India in the aftermath of the terrorist attack. The state department spokesman said that the US expresses its deepest sympathies to the government and the people.

British foreign minister David Miliband said: "Today’s bombings in Jaipur have shown again the horrific destruction which terrorism brings. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and with those injured. There can never be any justification for acts of indiscriminate violence such as these and I utterly condemn those who have perpetrated today’s attacks." France expressed its indignation and repulsion at the blasts. Canada’s foreign affairs minister Maxime Bernier condemned the bombings. "These terrorist bombings... are a deplorable act of violence against innocent civilians," he said.

Israel has said it is incumbent on the civilised international community to act in a concerted and unified manner to stamp out the scourge of terror whenever it rears its head. Iran has conveyed its sorrow at the terrorist attack in Jaipur. "Our hearts go out to the government and the people of India, and to the families of the victims of the blasts," the Iranian embassy here said.