US: Embassy attack a reminder

2008-06-02 21:09

Islamabad - US President George W Bush has condemned a suicide bombing on Denmark's embassy in Pakistan and offers his condolences to the victims, White House spokesperson Dana Perino said on Monday.

"We condemn the terrorist attack, there is no justification for it," she said. "The president has been briefed, he offers his condolences to victims of violence and their families."

"It does serve as a reminder to the government of Pakistan and to all governments that terrorism is real, that it cannot not be allowed to have safe haven, they must be dealt with and confronted," Perino told reporters.

Eight killed, 27 wounded

She spoke after a suicide car bombing outside the Danish embassy in Pakistan killed eight people and wounded 27 on Monday in a possible new backlash over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, state media and officials said.

"We also express our concerns for the people who were targeted, because obviously that creates a lot of fear and uncertainty and that's what terrorists try to do, which is to instil fear," said Perino.

The massive blast damaged the mission in central Islamabad and nearly destroyed a nearby UN agency. Dozens of cars were also wrecked by the force of the explosion, which gouged a huge crater out of the road.

No claim of responsibility

There was no claim of responsibility but officials said the attack was likely linked to the row over the Mohammed sketches, which Danish newspapers first published in 2005 and then reprinted in February.

- AFP