Arab nations condole with Turkey after deadly quake

By Muhammed Semiz

ISTANBUL (AA) - Arab nations offered condolences Friday to Turkey after an earthquake in the Aegean Sea killed at least 20 people.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent a telegram to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer condolences, the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA, reported.

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah also extended condolences to Erdogan, according to the official Kuwait news agency, KUNA.

Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Libya's Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj called Erdogan and offered condolences for the lives lost in the quake.

Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said in a telegram to Erdogan offered condolences for the loss of lives caused by the powerful earthquake, official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry in a statement also offered condolences for the loss of lives and conveyed the country’s messages of support and solidarity.

Saudi Foreign Ministry in a statement condoled with Turkey saying it was deeply saddened by news of the earthquake in Izmir.

Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said it stands by Turkey and Greece following the earthquake.

“We are in solidarity with the Turkish and Greek people during this difficult period of time,” Barzani said on Twitter.

At least 786 others were also injured when a magnitude-6.6 quake jolted Izmir on the Turkish Aegean.

Two children were also reported dead on the Greek island of Samos.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz from Ankara