Mideast countries condemn Nice attack, express solidarity with France

Cairo, July 16 (IANS) Countries in the Middle East on Friday condemned the terror attack in Nice that killed at least 84 people, and expressed solidarity with France.

A truck rammed into a crowd celebrating the French national day in Nice on Thursday night, Xinhua news agency quoted French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve as saying on Friday.

The truck driver was shot dead after opening fire at police. Identity papers of a 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian male, in addition to weapons and grenades, were reportedly found in the truck.

At least 84 people were killed and 18 others remain in "critical condition", said the Minister.

Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, President of the most populous Arab country, Egypt, condemned the attack and expressed heartfelt condolences to French President Francois Hollande and the French people.

Sisi also voiced his country's full solidarity with all international efforts aimed at fighting terrorism.

In Turkey, where the latest terror attack struck last month, killing 45 people at an Istanbul airport, President Recep Erdogan condemned the attack in France as "inhuman".

The United Arab Emirates, a close economic partner of France, strongly condemned "the heinous and horrific crime".

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered assistance to France in its struggle against terrorism.

"Israel is ready to help the French government fight this evil until it is defeated," the agency quoted him as saying.

Iraqi President Fuad Masoum described the attack as "barbaric".

"The attack in Nice reaffirms the importance of strengthening solidarity and cooperation in the international community, and the need to activate all necessary means to fight terrorism in all its forms," Xinhua news agency quoted Masoum as saying.

In addition, the governments of Iran, Sudan and Tunisia also condemned the attack.

President Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia, which also suffered several major terror attacks in the past two years, told French Ambassador in Tunisia, Francois Gouyette, that the two countries "will fight together and show we are united".

In Tehran, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said "terrorism is an ominous phenomenon that will be eradicated only with international cooperation and consensus".

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