(FinalCall.com)--Statements of outrage and expressions of sympathy
from leaders worldwide swept through America following Sept. 11 reports
that hijacked airplanes crashed into two of the country�s landmark
structures. The resounding cry for justice and healing that was created
high above the wreckage of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
included four Middle Eastern countries currently considered states that
support terrorism by the State Department.
"Different policies and the conflicts with America shouldn�t be a
psychological obstacle to sending humanitarian aid to the American
people and all people in America who were profoundly affected by these
terrible attacks," said Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi. "It is our humane
duty to stand side-by-side with the American people despite our
political conflict," he added.
Iranian President Mohammed Khatami also extended condolences from his
government and nation. "My deep sympathy goes out to the American
nation, particularly those who have suffered from the attacks and also
the families of the victims," he said, noting, "terrorism is doomed and
the international community should stem it and take effective measures
in a bid to eradicate it."
Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir condemned the killing of innocent
civilians and said that he "hoped for a pause for reconsideration of
international relations and dealing fairly with the different issues in
the context of a balanced international order."
Further empathy for the loss of life and denunciations of terrorism
came from President Jiang Zemin of China and Bahrain�s Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.
The Cuban government expressed total rejection of the attacks on
America. "Our people have had to suffer 40 years of acts of terrorism,
so we know the consequences of this type of action," said Prime Minister
Felipe Perez Roque.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, speaking through a spokesman,
called for "an international effort to uproot terrorism in all its forms
and to protect the right of human beings to live in peace and security."
Echoing this call, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak spoke of the need
for an international "conference" of countries that will agree on
anti-terrorism resolutions. Standing as one of America�s strongest
allies in the Middle East, Pres. Mubarak said, "Punishing those who
committed the crime is a must, and revenge must be very well calculated.
But we shouldn�t accuse anybody now and we shouldn�t jump to conclusions
for now."
Indian officials have stated privately that they will open their
bases to U.S. forces if the need arises during any retaliation efforts.
"We have given unconditional and unambivalent support for any action the
United States may take to deal with the problem of global terrorism,"
one Indian official said. Full support of future U.S. actions was
declared by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who called the terrorist acts extremely
heinous, outrageous and unforgivable.
"I hope the leaders of the world will sit down and think about where
we are going," said Desmond Tutu, former South African Anglican
archbishop. "We are in a new millennium and we really have to find how
we co-exist as a human family."
� Dora Muhammad