International community condemns attack
SEVERAL countries have sent messages expressing solidarity and condemning the bomb blasts that ripped through Kampala city on Sunday, killing over 70 people and leaving scores injured.
By Cyprian Musoke
and Agencies
SEVERAL countries have sent messages expressing solidarity and condemning the bomb blasts that ripped through Kampala city on Sunday, killing over 70 people and leaving scores injured.
Foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa yesterday said he had received commiserations from the US, UK, Germany, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Abu Dhabi.
He reassured the country that arrangements for hosting the AU summit next week were still going on, and security had been stepped up.
“Security has been tightened for the AU summit because we don’t want to take any chances,†he said.
The UK foreign secretary, William Hague, in a statement issued by the British High Commission yesterday, described the attacks as cowardly.
“I was deeply shocked to hear of the bomb attacks which left many people dead and injured. I send my heartfelt sympathies to President Museveni and the people of Uganda, in particular families and friends of those who lost their lives. I wish a full and speedy recovery to those who were injured.â€
The UK, Hague added, will stand with Uganda in fighting such brutal acts of violence and terror.
Germany too condemned the perpetrators of the attacks.
“I condemn these dreadful attacks. One can scarcely top the heinousness of attacking people while they are enjoying a peaceful festival of sport,†foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement.
France too joined in condemning what it described as “barbaric†acts, which it blamed on al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia.
“The authors of these barbaric acts must be identified, pursued and brought to justice,†French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said.
The Ethiopian government said it was trying to establish whether any of its citizens were killed in the blast at the Ethiopian village in Kabalagala, a Kampala suburb.
“There have been no recent threats in Ethiopia, but Somali groups have said they will attack peacekeeping nations,†Ethiopian communications minister Bereket Simon said in an interview from Addis Ababa.
and Agencies
SEVERAL countries have sent messages expressing solidarity and condemning the bomb blasts that ripped through Kampala city on Sunday, killing over 70 people and leaving scores injured.
Foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa yesterday said he had received commiserations from the US, UK, Germany, Ethiopia, Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Abu Dhabi.
He reassured the country that arrangements for hosting the AU summit next week were still going on, and security had been stepped up.
“Security has been tightened for the AU summit because we don’t want to take any chances,†he said.
The UK foreign secretary, William Hague, in a statement issued by the British High Commission yesterday, described the attacks as cowardly.
“I was deeply shocked to hear of the bomb attacks which left many people dead and injured. I send my heartfelt sympathies to President Museveni and the people of Uganda, in particular families and friends of those who lost their lives. I wish a full and speedy recovery to those who were injured.â€
The UK, Hague added, will stand with Uganda in fighting such brutal acts of violence and terror.
Germany too condemned the perpetrators of the attacks.
“I condemn these dreadful attacks. One can scarcely top the heinousness of attacking people while they are enjoying a peaceful festival of sport,†foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement.
France too joined in condemning what it described as “barbaric†acts, which it blamed on al-Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia.
“The authors of these barbaric acts must be identified, pursued and brought to justice,†French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said.
The Ethiopian government said it was trying to establish whether any of its citizens were killed in the blast at the Ethiopian village in Kabalagala, a Kampala suburb.
“There have been no recent threats in Ethiopia, but Somali groups have said they will attack peacekeeping nations,†Ethiopian communications minister Bereket Simon said in an interview from Addis Ababa.