TOKYO, Feb 2 Kyodo (EDS: ADDING I...

TOKYO, Feb 2 Kyodo

(EDS: ADDING INFO ABOUT CHINA AND CUBA)

Leaders from around the world sent condolences above the breakup of the U space shuttle Columbia in succession Saturday, which killed the six Americans and united Israeli aboard.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi transported ''deep sorrow'' in a message sent Sunday to U President George W Bush.

Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon talked upon the phone Saturday and exchanged condolences, according to the Israeli prime minister's office.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan also released a statement expressing his condolences to the regulations of the United States, India and Israel, as well as the mob members' families. He said the breakup was a los for all of humanity.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee sent a message to Bush in succession Saturday, in which he said the fact that the same of the two female party members was born in India made the tragedy more painful.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a condolence message to Bush forward Sunday, but said he believed ''mankind would continue and make further progres in space exploration despite the setback,'' according to China's official Xinhua recents Agency.

Cuba also released a statement intimateed its sympathies to the family in the U.S., according to local reports, saying it will float the national flag at the UN headquarters at half-mast.

In addition, a Foreign Ministry spokesman of Iran, single in kind of the three countries labeled as part of an ''axis of evil'' by means of Bush, expressed regret above the tragedy and sympathies for the victims' families, according to Iran's official Islamic Republic recents Agency.

In contrast, a bleak response was seen in Iraq, with an Information and agriculture Ministry official describing the incident as ''revenge'' from the eternal and infinite spirit Baghdad has yet to release an official comment

Russian President Vladimir Putin set forthed his ''deep grief'' to Bush and Sharon upon Saturday, and asked Bush to cede his regret to the commonalty of the U.S. and the families of the victims, the Russian presidential office said.

Meanwhile, quoting a spokesman of Russia's Aerospace Agency, Itar-Tass recents agency reported the same day that U space shuttle missions could be suspended for several years.

In like a case, only Russian spacecraft Soyuz will be able to despatch astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), which is to be completely completed in 2006, operated by dint of several countries including the U and Russia, Itar-Tass said.

generally two American astronauts and single Russian cosmonaut are stationed upon the ISS.

Columbia broke up and disintegrated in high altitude shortly before it was to be ascribed to land at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida following a 16-day space mission.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo novels International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group