Arabs condemn ‘terror’ attack in Damascus

AMMAN – Arab countries yesterday condemned the “terrorist” attack that rocked a diplomatic district in the Syrian capital and several leaders phoned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a show of solidarity.

Among the first to react was Jordan which this week said it foiled a massive chemical bomb plot by al Qaeda against the intelligence department that could have killed tens of thousands of people in Amman. “We condemn this attack and we consider it a terrorist and criminal act that targeted the security and stability of a brother country,” government spokeswoman Asma Khodr told AFP.Jordan saw Tuesday night’s violence in Damascus as “part of (a pattern of) terrorist attacks against different societies”, she said.Two of four assailants as well as a policeman and a woman passerby were killed in a shootout following a bomb attack in Damascus, the Syrian interior ministry said.The attack took place in the Mazzeh district which is home to several Western and Middle East embassies, including those of Canada, Britain, Iran and Saudi Arabia.Syria’s state news agency SANA said yesterday authorities later uncovered a cache of arms and explosives that belonged to the unknown group which carried out the attack.Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri also condemned the violence and telephoned Assad overnight to express their solidarity with Syria.A statement from Hariri’s office said “the aim of those who carried out this terrorist attack against Syria… is to strike the stability of Syria and shake the entire region because Syria is the pillar of stability”.Damascus “is the last bastion that stands against what is being plotted against the Arab world and its people”, Hariri said.”Targeting Syria is a link in the chain of attacks from Palestine to Riyadh, and now Damascus, and constitutes a threat to security in the Arab world,” the statement said.Hariri called on Arab leaders due to meet at a summit in Tunis next month to adopt a “a clear strategy to put an end to the violation of security and stability” in the region.After Tuesday’s attacks, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak also called Assad who assured him that “the situation is stable”, Egypt’s official news agency MENA reported.Jordan’s state television on Monday broadcast taped confessions of suspects arrested in connection with the foiled plot in Amman, including that of an 18-year-old Syrian.- Nampa-AFP”We condemn this attack and we consider it a terrorist and criminal act that targeted the security and stability of a brother country,” government spokeswoman Asma Khodr told AFP.Jordan saw Tuesday night’s violence in Damascus as “part of (a pattern of) terrorist attacks against different societies”, she said.Two of four assailants as well as a policeman and a woman passerby were killed in a shootout following a bomb attack in Damascus, the Syrian interior ministry said.The attack took place in the Mazzeh district which is home to several Western and Middle East embassies, including those of Canada, Britain, Iran and Saudi Arabia.Syria’s state news agency SANA said yesterday authorities later uncovered a cache of arms and explosives that belonged to the unknown group which carried out the attack.Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri also condemned the violence and telephoned Assad overnight to express their solidarity with Syria.A statement from Hariri’s office said “the aim of those who carried out this terrorist attack against Syria… is to strike the stability of Syria and shake the entire region because Syria is the pillar of stability”.Damascus “is the last bastion that stands against what is being plotted against the Arab world and its people”, Hariri said.”Targeting Syria is a link in the chain of attacks from Palestine to Riyadh, and now Damascus, and constitutes a threat to security in the Arab world,” the statement said.Hariri called on Arab leaders due to meet at a summit in Tunis next month to adopt a “a clear strategy to put an end to the violation of security and stability” in the region.After Tuesday’s attacks, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak also called Assad who assured him that “the situation is stable”, Egypt’s official news agency MENA reported.Jordan’s state television on Monday broadcast taped confessions of suspects arrested in connection with the foiled plot in Amman, including that of an 18-year-old Syrian.- Nampa-AFP