Political leaders 'shocked and angered' at Madrid atrocity

European governments have been sending their messages of support to Spain today, following this morning's terrorist bombings in Madrid which have so far left more than 170 people dead.

Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned the bombings as a "terrible attack" and said that European states would cooperate more closely to maintain security.

"This terrible attack underlines the threat that we all continue to face from terrorism in many countries, and why we all must work together internationally to safeguard our peoples against such attacks and defeat terrorism," Mr Blair said at today's weekly Cabinet meeting.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw expressed his "profound shock and anger" at the attacks in a Downing Street statement.

"I send our sympathy and condolences to the relatives of those who've been killed and to all those who have been injured," said Mr Straw.

He earlier contacted the Spanish Foreign Minister, Ana Palacio, to express the British government's shock and condolences.

"And I have told her that the British people sadly have had similar experiences of such disgusting terrorist atrocities and that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Spanish people and government in their fight against this kind of terrorism," he said.

The US Secretary of State Colin Powell "vehemently" condemned the "outrageous and appalling terrorist attacks" in Madrid.

He added: "I offer deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of Spain. In my telephone call with Foreign Minister [Ana] Palacio this morning, I extended our sympathies and complete support to the Spanish government.

He added: "The United States stands resolutely with Spain in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and against the particular threat that Spain faces from the evil of ETA terrorism. No political pretext can justify this premeditated murder of the innocent. We will assist the Spanish government in any way we can to find those responsible for these heinous acts and bring them to certain justice."

The Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern also condemned the atrocity, and pointed to Sunday's general election polling in Spain as a possible reason for the timing of the bombing.

He said: “The timing of the bombings was clearly designed to wreak the greatest level of havoc and carnage. They are an attack on the democratic process and cannot be justified by any political cause.”

The Taoiseach also sent a message of support and sympathy to the Spanish government and its people.

The French foreign minister Dominic de Villepin said that the whole of France "utterly condemns the cowardly attacks". M de Villepin also sent a message of condolence to the Spanish government and spoke of France's solidarity with Spanish during their "terrible ordeal".

"There must be a relentless fight against terrorism, regardless of its form or source," he said.

Upon receiving the news of the bombings, the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Franco Frattini, sent a message of "deep condolences" to his Spanish counterpart Ana Palacio.

Minister Frattini expressed his own "personal indignation" as well as that of the Italian government as he condemned the "brutal acts" that have caused the death and injury of many helpless victims. He also called for "maximum rigour in the pursuance of strategies that counter terrorism in all its forms".

(gmcg)