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The international community has condemned Saturday’s attack on a peace rally in Ankara that killed at least 86 people and injured 186.
French President Francois Hollande and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev both telephoned President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer their condolences while Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced the blasts and offered condolences to the families of the victims.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly condemned the attack in a telegram of condolences to her Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu.
“If the indications of terrorism are confirmed, this is a cowardly act directed against civil rights, democracy and peace,” Merkel said.
“This attack has targeted social cohesion. It is an attempt to intimidate, an attempt to spread fear,” she added.
“I am confident that the Turkish government and the whole Turkish society will stand together and give terror the answer of unity and democracy,” the German premier said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives due to the bomb explosion in Ankara, Turkey.
Mr. Modi conveyed condolences to families of deceased and prayed for the recovery of injured.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi also expressed shock and pain at the terror attack.
Condemning the act as brutal and mindless, Ms Gandhi expressed solidarity with the people of Turkey.
German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said the terror attack was aimed at undermining the democratic process in Turkey.
“The perpetrators have apparently aimed at creating a climate of fear, fueling strife and hatred. This should not happen,” Steinmeier said.
“All the forces in Turkey which advocate peaceful coexistence and reconciliation should stand together now and prevent any further escalation. I am confident that the democratic forces which are deeply rooted in Turkish society will also come through this,” he said.
British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said he was appalled by the “barbaric attacks” in a tweet. “My thoughts are with the loved ones of those killed and injured. UK stands with the Turkish people,” he added.
Thorbjorn Jagland, secretary general of the Council of Europe, said: “I condemn the barbaric attack on peaceful demonstrators in Ankara today. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental pillar of democracy.”
The U.S. expressed “deep condolences to the Turkish people and to the families of the victims of today’s horrendous attack” in a message sent on the Ankara embassy’s official Twitter account.
In Pakistan, President Mamnoon Hussain’s office said in a statement: “We have learned with deep sadness about the bomb blasts near the train station in Ankara today. Pakistan condemns this heinous act of terrorism in the strongest possible terms.”
Two explosions at a peace rally in the Turkish capital Ankara have killed at least 86 people and injured 186, according to officials.
TV footage shows scenes of panic and people lying on the ground covered in blood, amid protest banners.
The blasts took place near the city’s central train station as people gathered for a march organised by leftist groups.
Government officials say the blasts were a terrorist attack and a suicide bomber was behind at least one of the explosions.