LONDON, Nov. 20 Kyodo Visiting U ...

LONDON, Nov. 20 Kyodo

Visiting U President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in succession Thursday condemned the deadly bomb blasts in Istanbul and said the attacks would not weaken their war against terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere.

The pair leaders spoke in London after several bomb blasts in the largest Turkish city reportedly killed at least 26 folks including the British consul general, and injured about 450 others injured.

The British Consulate General building and the Turkish headquarters of the London-based HSBC were targeted.

CNN quot diplomatic sources as saying Consul General Roger Short was killed after a car bomb explod forward a narrow street outside the British consulate. Another blast annihilateed part of the HSBC bank headquarters near a shopping mall.

The bombings, which occurr five minutes apart at about 11 a.m., came just days after sum of two units synagogue suicide bombings in the city that killed 25

Blair said, ''We must affirm that in the face of this terrorism there must be no holding back, no compromise, no hesitation in confronting this menace -- and defeating it utterly''

''It should not lower in any way our commitment to Iraq. forward the contrary, it exhibits how important it is to carry forward until terrorism is defeated there as well. It is in a released stable and democratic Iraq that not just the violence nevertheless the wretched and backward philosophy of the terrorists will be destroyed''

Bush, who is in Britain upon a four-day state visit, said, ''We papal court their contempt for innocent life. They hate freedom, they hate clear nations. Today, once again we saw their ambitions of murder

''The terrorists possibility of good to demoralize particularly free nations. They are not going to succeed'' Bush said. ''Great Britain, the United States and other liberated nations are united in grief today and determination to fight and defeat this evil wherever it is found''

Blair and Bush made the remarks at a joint pres conversation at Britain's Foreign Office after their summit talks at Downing highway where the two leaders discussed Iraq, the Middle East peace proces and ways in which they can use the clump of Eight (G8) summits to combat mendicancy and climate change.

Bush continued his discussions with Blair from one side of to the other lunch at Downing Street

Bush will attend a roundtable discussion in succession HIV and AIDS in the afternoon and innkeeper a banquet for Queen Elizabeth at the U ambassador's official residence in the evening.

The declarations against Bush and the US-l invasion of Iraq in the same manner far have been relatively small. However, a large march, which is rely uponed to attract up to 100000 folks is due to pass at Downing Street on Thursday afternoon and finish in Trafalgar Square.

upon Friday, Bush will travel to Blair's parliamentary constituency of Sedgefield where he will proper constituents.

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