Government condemns Istanbul bombings

The Government has condemned today's bomb attacks in Istanbul that killed at least 25 people and injured hundreds more.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, who is on a trip to Romania and Bulgaria, said he was "deeply saddened" at the attacks, and condemned them "in the strongest terms".

He extended his Government's condolences to the victims and the Turkish government and said he had spoken to the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair.

"This latest outrage and previous similar attacks clearly place no value on human life, regardless of race or creed," the Taoiseach said. "The entire international community must intensify its co-operation and redouble its efforts to ensure that such terrorism does not prevail."

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, described the attacks as "appalling acts of violence" and the "latest manifestation of the evil of international terrorism".

"There can be no justification for the death and destruction visited on the people of Istanbul in recent days, or for the targeting of the British diplomatic mission in the city," Mr Cowen said. "Ireland and the international community will stand firm with the people of Turkey in the fight against international terrorism in all its forms."

The Labour Party's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Michael D. Higgins TD, described the bombings as "reprehensible" and unjustifiable.

"What has now been unleashed has at its basis a number of unresolved conflicts in and around the Middle East," he said. "It is therefore all the more urgent that the Irish Presidency of the EU should be used to seek a resolution to these conflicts and in particular the Palestinian/Israeli conflict."