Obama leads global outcry at Jakarta bombings
Posted: 18 July 2009 0615 hrs

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WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama led global condemnation of Friday's hotel bombings in Jakarta that killed at least nine people.

Two suspected suicide bombers set off the blasts which tore through the Ritz-Carlton and nearby JW Marriott hotels and injured more than 40 people in the Indonesian capital.

One New Zealand person was believed to be among the dead while Australians, Dutch, Canadians, Americans a South Korean and a Japanese were among the injured, officials said.

And there was immediate fallout when English football club Manchester United cancelled the Indonesian leg of an Asian tour which would have seen the team staying at the Ritz-Carlton. Other countries urged people to reconsider travel to Indonesia.

Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia, offered America's "unwavering" support to the country.

"I strongly condemn the attacks that occurred this morning in Jakarta, and extend my deepest condolences to all of the victims and their loved ones," the president said in a statement.

"The US government stands ready to help the Indonesian government respond to and recover from these outrageous attacks as a friend and partner."

State Department spokesperson Robert Wood said eight of the estimated 40 injured in the blasts were US citizens.

Obama praised Indonesia's steadfastness "in combating violent extremism".

"We will continue to partner with Indonesia to eliminate the threat from these violent extremists, and we will be unwavering in supporting a future of security and opportunity for the Indonesian people," he said.

The UN Security Council said terrorism was "one of the most serious threats to international peace and security."

A non-binding statement endorsed by all 15 council members "condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks" and "affirms its confidence in the government of Indonesia to bring perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts to justice."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also strongly condemned the bombings, his spokeswoman said, while Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the attacks made him "sick to the stomach".

"Any attack anywhere is an attack on us all," Rudd told reporters. "Any terrorist attack is an act of cowardice. It is an act of murder. It is a barbaric act that violates the fundamental principles of human decency."

Rudd said he had "grave concerns" for an embassy official and two other Australians missing after the attacks.

The Australian government raised its threat alert level for Indonesia, urging citizens to reconsider their need to travel there.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference, described the bombings as "horrific and senseless terrorist attacks in Jakarta," an OIC statement said.

The European Union called the blasts "brutal acts", in a statement issued by the Swedish EU presidency.

"These attacks remind us, yet again, of the threat people of all races and religions face from violent extremists," echoed British Foreign Secretary David Miliband from London.

France's foreign ministry condemned the double attack "in the strongest terms" and offered the Indonesian government its support. Switzerland and Hungary also offered "solidarity".

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry urged Bulgarian nationals not to visit Indonesia and said Bulgarians in the country should leave.

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said he learnt of the attacks with "disgust", adding in a statement: "I condemn this cowardly violence against innocent civilians."

Three Dutch citizens were among those injured in the Marriott blast.

Spain's foreign ministry urged the international community to "fight against terrorism with all our energy and greater determination".

Canada's Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon said the attacks were "cowardly acts of violence". He said at least two Canadians were injured and in hospital.

In Asia, the Japanese foreign ministry said: "Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason, and Japan reiterates its firm condemnation of these atrocious acts of terrorism that target many innocent people."

- AFP /ls