Moscow, flowers at Lubyanka metro station, evening March 29, 2010. Photo by the "Caucasian Knot"

29 March 2010, 23:50

World community shaken by terror acts in Moscow

The two explosions committed today in the morning in the Moscow metro have caused a huge public resonance. Leaders of dozens of countries of the world, heads of European institutes of democracy, representatives of international and religious organizations have expressed their condemnation of terrorism and condolences to casualties' families.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the explosions at Lubyanka and Park Kultury Moscow metro stations were triggered today at 7:56 and 8:40 a.m. Moscow time accordingly. Under the latest data, 38 persons were killed and 65 more were wounded.

The acts of terrorism in the Moscow metro have already been condemned by the Council of Muftis of Russia. "Extremism and terrorism have no support in the Sacred Koran and Sunnah of the Prophet. A terrorist cannot be a Moslem, and a Moslem cannot be a terrorist," runs the Council's statement placed in its official website.

Ravil Gainutdin, head of the Council of Muftis of Russia, also made his comments on messages of some mass media, where the women-suicide-bombers were named "shahids". He said that terrorists-suicide bombers can never be "shahids".

"This sort of statements, when the highly respected Moslem word, awarded to a person, who perished in a fair war with aggressors while defending the Islam, it given to murderers, can be regarded as instigation of young people to similar actions," the "Rosbalt" quotes Mr Gainutdin as saying.

The fact that terrorists have nothing in common with the faith and mankind was also emphasized by Sultan Mirzaev, Mufti of the Chechen Republic. He named the terrorists who "had done evil to peaceful residents of Russia," to be "scum of society worth isolating from people for the rest of their life and rooted out." "These beasts have no right to live among normal people," runs Mr Mirzaev's statement published in the website of President and Government of the Chechen Republic.

Leaders of world powers express solidarity with Russia

Condolences to the Russian people in the context of the terror acts committed in Moscow were expressed by US President Barack Obama. "Americans and Russians are unanimous in their aversion of extremism and monstrous attacks of terrorists who show their complete neglect of human life; and we resolutely condemn these terror acts," he said in his statement, as the "Gazeta.Ru" writes.

Heads of European states also voiced their resolute condemnation of terror acts. President of France Nicolas Sarkozy named them "mean and cowardly." He emphasized in his statement disseminated today by the Elysee Palace that France "is in complete sympathy" with Russia, as the ITAR-TASS reports.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Guido Westerwelle said that the terror acts committed in Moscow "are disgusting" and "have no justification." "With all possible resolution we condemn these cowardly blows on Moscow," runs the statement of head of German MFA.

Condolences to Russian leaders, people and casualties' families were expressed by President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovich, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev, Grigol Vashadze, head of the MFA of Georgia, President of Moldova Georgiy Pyrvanov, Foreign Minister of Israel Avigdor Liberman, Prime Minister of Czechia Jan Fisher, President of Poland Lech Kaczynski, President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers, Head of the MFA of Estonia Urmas Paet, Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius, Head of the MFA of India SM Malay Krishna and many others.

Foreign Minister of Italy Franko Frattini, having expressed his solidarity with the Russian people, said that because of terror acts in Moscow the G8 Summit to take place in the evening in Ottawa (Canada) will start from discussing the problems of terrorism, the "Interfax" reports.

"The point is in awful terror acts, which deserve sharp condemnation by international community," Mr Frattini said on air of the Italian TV.

International organizations call to war on terror

"Terrible acts of terror in Moscow remind us of immutable need to continue our fight against terrorism by the methods based on principles of respect of human rights and democratic values," Ms Micheline Calmy-Rey, head of the Swiss MFA and chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, said today.

She was supported by Anders Fog Rasmussen, Secretary General of the NATO who also expressed his commitment to cooperate with Russia in the war on terrorism. "On behalf of the NATO I resolutely condemn the today's acts of terrorism in Moscow. There can be no justification of this sort of attacks on innocent citizens," he said.

The members of the UN Security Council have also condemned the acts committed in Moscow. "The members of the Council have reconfirmed that terrorism in all its forms and embodiments is one of the most serious threats to international peace and safety, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustified, irrespective of their motives, wherever, whenever and whoever commits them," the ITAR-TASS quotes the statement of the Council's Chair.

Support was expressed to Russia also by the European Commission in the person of its Chairman Jose Manuel Barroso. "People have the right to live in safety when in their everyday business. We can't admit that violence dominates over freedom and democracy. The European Union is resolutely supporting the authorities of Russia in their struggle against all forms of terrorism," said Mr Barroso.

As reported by the "News-Armenia", an "official condemnation of this barbarous act of terrorism, which can be with good reason and without any exaggeration characterized as a crime against humanity" was voiced our by the Russian Red Cross.

In its turn, the Interpol has offered its help to Russian authorities in investigating the explosions in the Moscow metro by collecting information through its channels about possible organizers, and by announcing them in international search.

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