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Governments and international organizations from around the world Thursday condemned the series of train bombings in the Spanish capital Madrid that have killed 192 people and injured more than 1,200.
Four blasts shook Madrid at a peak hour on Thursday morning. The first explosion took place around 7:30 am (0630 GMT) in a commuter train arriving at Atocha station, a bustling hub for subway, commuter and long-distance trains in the Spanish capital.
Blasts also rocked trains or platforms at two stations on a commuter line leading to Atocha.
"For me, this is a terrible day. It is also a terrible day for everybody, for every European citizens," said EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana, who himself is a Spanish.
He said every European citizens should condemn those who had committed the bombings, adding that such terrorist acts would not hinder the progress of democracy in Europe and "the (European) Union will continue to fight terrorism."
US President George W. Bush on Thursday made a telephone call to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, expressing condolences over the bomb attacks in Madrid.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw expressed "profound shock and anger" at the blasts, decrying the atrocity as a "disgusting assault on the principle of democracy."
Britain will stay "shoulder to shoulder" with Spain to fight all forms of terrorist acts, said Straw.
Denouncing the blasts as a "mindless act of cruelty and barbarism," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said he was shocked and angry at the appalling terrorist attacks in Madrid.
"On behalf of the Alliance (NATO), I condemn in the strongest possible terms this mindless act of cruelty and barbarism," said Scheffer in a written statement, noting that the terrible loss of life and casualties make this attack one of the worst that Spain has suffered in recent times.
"Our solidarity with Spain remains steadfast, as is our Alliance's determination to vigorously pursue our efforts to combat terrorism," the NATO chief pledged.
French President Jacques Chirac expressed deep sorrow over the heavy casualties caused by the deadly blasts.
"It's to my consternation to hear of the terrible attacks that hit Madrid railway network and cast gloom over Spain," Chirac said in a message to Jose Maria Aznar, head of the Spanish government.
"These irresponsible maneuvers, which can't be justified, are to be condemned in all respects," said the message released by Chirac's office.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said in a letter to Aznar that he was shocked over the heavy casualties caused by the terrorist bombings. He asked Aznar to convey his sympathy to the injured and family members of the victims.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer expressed horror over the loss of so many lives. "These despicable terror acts that have claimed so many victims fill us with deep sadness and outrage," he said in a statement Thursday morning.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a letter of condolence to his Spanish counterpart, Jose Maria Aznar, strongly condemning the terrorist bombings in Madrid and expressing his heart-felt sympathy for the families and relatives of the victims.
China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also sent a letter of condolence to his Spanish counterpart, Ana Palacio.
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi condemned the attacks as "abominable violence that wounds every principle of civil existence."
"Madrid's tragedy reminds us of the need that ever more cohesive action by the European Union and the international community must achieve efficient and swift results in uprooting terrorism and see that the reasons of dialogue and solidarity prevail," Ciampi said.
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said in a statement that "thoughts and prayers of people across Europe would be with them and especially with the bereaved and injured."
"The timing of the bombings was clearly designed to wreak the greatest level of havoc and carnage. They are an attack on the democratic process and can not be justified by any political cause," said Ahern, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Bertrand Ramcharan denounced the bombings as "monstrous and unconscionable" terrorist attacks.
"Terrorist must know that with attacks such as the monstrous and unconscionable bombings in Madrid today they will not succeed in destroying the edifice of international law and human rights the international community has been building for so many years," said Ramcharan.
Although no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, Spanish authorities blamed the attacks on Basque separatist group ETA, which is listed as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union.
The death toll will make Thursday's explosions the worst ever in decades of attacks by ETA.
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2004)
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