Worldwide condemnation for Bali bombings

The world united to condemn the suicide bombings on Bali.

In a spontaneous show of solidarity for Indonesia, governments around the globe offered all help to overcome last night’s tragedy, the latest in a string of terrorist attacks in the world’s most populous Muslim country in the past three years.

Australia offered medical and police aid, Britain sent an emergency assistance team, and the US and New Zealand pledged to help in any way possible to catch the terrorists suspected in the three near-simultaneous blasts that killed at least 25 people and injured more than 100.

No-one claimed responsibility but suspicion fell on the al-Qaida-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiyah, which officials say was also behind the October 12, 2002, bombings in Bali that killed 202 people.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard condemned the bombings as “an indiscriminate murderous attack.

“I see it very much as part of an ongoing attempt by terrorists to undermine democratic Indonesia,” he said.

Howard said his government will provide medical evacuation to Australia or Singapore for those injured in the blasts ”irrespective of their nationality”. Australia was prepared to send investigative and police support as soon as possible, he said.

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whose government has been fighting Islamic militants in the country’s south, said the attacks show the resilience of the terrorists to strike “when our guard is down.

“We have limited the movements of terrorist cells and kept them on the run. But the price of freedom is perpetual vigilance,” she said.

Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said the attack is ”a reminder that although weakened, terrorist groups remain a threat to our societies”.

Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia have arrested scores of Jemaah Islamiyah suspects in recent years, many of whom have been jailed without trial.

Japan condemned the attacks as “abominable”.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called it a “cowardly attack”.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said such “callous and cold-blooded” acts “are an affront to humanity”.

In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: “The British government stands ready to help in any way we can.”

Britain’s ambassador in Indonesia, Charles Humfrey, would be sent to Bali along with an “emergency deployment team” based in Hong Kong. Further details were not immediately available.

White House spokeswoman Erin Healy said the US government was ready “to assist in any way“.

“The US stands with the people and government of Indonesia as they work to bring to justice those responsible for these acts of terrorism,” said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.