Foreign Secretary condemns Istanbul bombings

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has condemned the bomb blasts this morning in Istanbul as "a clearly appalling act of terrorism".

Reports from Turkey at lunchtime today indicated that at least 17 people have been killed in the blasts and over 400 were injured in the attacks on the HSBC bank and the British Consulate. Three Britons, including the British Consul-General Roger Short, are known to be missing following the attacks which are believed to be linked to a militant Islamic group with associations to al-Qaeda.

In a statement to the media outside No. 10, Mr Straw said that it appeared the bomb blasts were coordinated, targeting the HSBC headquarters in the city and the offices of the British Consulate General.

"You're aware that there are already a number of reports of deaths and serious injuries. I've just spoken to Peter Westmacott, who's the British Ambassador in Ankara, he is now on his way in the Turkish Ministry of the Interior's aeroplane to Istanbul.

"British employees at the Consulate General are concerned there are three or four who have not reported to the roll call and we are, obviously, making every effort to identify what has happened to those individuals."

He said that the government could not say for certain who has been responsible the attack at this stage, but it has all the hallmarks of the international terrorism practiced by al-Qaeda and the associated organisations.

Mr Straw said: "It re-emphasises the central message of President Bush and Prime Minister Blair and all other world leaders about the fact that we face a very serious threat of international terrorism and that the whole of the international community has to understand and accept its responsibilities for dealing with it."

The attacks on overtly British interests in Istanbul follow recent similar attacks against Jewish and Muslim people in Istanbul last Saturday.

At a joint press conference US President George Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair offered their condolences to the families of the victims in Istanbul. The two leaders claimed that they were making "good progress" against the war on terror.

(SP)