World leaders condole earthquake victims

World leaders condole earthquake victims
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JAN 27: World leaders including Chinese President Jiang Zemin, German President Johannes Rau and Queen Elizabeth have expressed sympathy with the victims of the Gujarat earthquake and offered assistance to them.

In a message to President K R Narayanan, Zemin said "I would like to express, on behalf of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese people, to your Excellency, and through you to the people in the earthquake-hit areas and the bereaved of the victims there, my heartfelt solicitude."

Rau's message to Narayanan said "It was with great shock that I learnt of the terrible earthquake that has hit India and of the subsequent losses of life."

"I feel deeply with all those who have lost relatives and friends or have otherwise been affected by the earthquake. Please be assured that Germany will stand by you in solidarity in this difficult situation," the German President said.

In a separate message, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said his government was willing to provide assistance to the victims of the earthquake and to initiate the requisite measures without delay.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations here yesterday, in a letter to Narayanan before leaving for Agra, said "We sympathise with you most sincerely in this painful event and share the sorrow of the people affected by this natural disaster."

In her message to the President, Queen Elizabeth said she heard with great concern the news of the earthquake in Gujarat which had brought such heavy loss of life.

"Prince Philip joins me in sending our condolences to you and the families of those who have died," she added.

In a separate message, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was shocked and saddened to learn of the death, injury and destruction caused by the quake in Gujarat.

"We stand ready to help in any way we can," he said.

A similar message was also sent by British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, in a message to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, expressed sympathy to the Government and the people of India.