HONG KONG, October 02, 2005 (AFP) - World leaders condemned a wave of attacks by suspected suicide bombers on Bali that left at least 26 people dead and pledged to support Indonesia in its fight against terrorism.
The blasts tore through two beachfront seafood restaurants and a pedestrian neighbourhood on the Indonesian resort island Saturday evening, creating all-too-familiar scenes of bloody chaos just days before the third anniversary of the nightclub attacks there.
Officials said tourists from Britain, the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea were among the dead or the scores of injured.
Messages of condemnation and support flooded in from across the world, including Britain, the United States, France, Japan and Australia, which lost 88 people in the 2002 blasts and at least two this time.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said the bombers were trying to undermine Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who represents "a threat to Islamic extremism".
"He is the democratic, moderate face of Islam and he's somebody therefore who should be supported and helped, and the terrorists know that and they want to undermine him," he said, describing the bombs as "an indiscriminate murderous attack".
Indonesia's top anti-terrorism official Ansyaad Mbai said the attacks bore the hallmark of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Al-Qaeda-linked Southeast Asian organisation that carried out the October 12, 2002 Bali blasts that killed 202 people.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was dismayed that the island -- a popular destination for Western holidaymakers -- had once again become a target of indiscriminate violence.
"The Secretary-General strongly condemns today's bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali," a statement issued by his spokesman said.
"He sends his deepest sympathy to the injured and the bereaved of many nationalities as well as to the Indonesian government.
"He urges the Indonesian authorities to act promptly in identifying and bringing the perpetrators of this cowardly attack to justice."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair also denounced the "appalling attacks".
"We stand by Indonesia at this very difficult time," said Blair, who was writing a personal note to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"I offer our full support to the people of Bali as they recover from another atrocity so soon after the 2002 attack," he said. "The British government stands ready to help in any way we can."
London's Foreign Office said one Briton with dual Australian nationality had been seriously injured and another slightly hurt in the blasts.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice echoed Blair's words.
"The United States condemns the terrorist bombings today in Bali that claimed innocent lives and injured many more," she said in a statement.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured."
Washington stood side-by-side with Indonesia, Rice said, adding: "We will continue to work together in our common fight against terror."
Japan also pledged to continue "its utmost efforts to tackle terrorism in cooperation with the international community, and to cooperate with and support the government of Indonesia in such efforts," the foreign ministry said.
China condemned the blasts and said it would support Jakarta's efforts to stamp out terrorism.
"We thoroughly condemn this act of terrorism," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that China "will continue to support the efforts of Indonesia to fight terrorism".
The Singaporean government said the attacks underlined the need for stronger regional cooperation against terrorism in Asia.
"This latest attack is a reminder that although weakened, terrorist groups remain a threat to our societies," Foreign Minister George Yeo said.
French President Jacques Chirac said in a letter to Yudhoyono that news of the near-simultaneous bombings "stunned and saddened me". He added: "France in the strongest possible way condemns these hateful acts."
Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer also denounced "in the strongest possible terms the despicable attacks in Bali".
A spokesman quoted him as saying: "The motive behind the attacks should be determined and those responsible brought to justice."
Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern added his voice to the chorus of disgust. "I utterly condemn this barbaric attack which was deliberately designed to kill and injure innocent people," he said in a statement.
