Following attack Turkey to send delegation to N.Zealand

By Aynur Ekiz

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey will send a high-level delegation to New Zealand in the aftermath of Friday's mosque attacks which left at least 49 people dead, the Turkish president said.

"I am sending our vice president, foreign minister, and a delegation to New Zealand,” said Recep Tayyip Erdogan Friday in a phone call to Dame Patsy Reddy, New Zealand’s governor-general, as shown in video posted online by Erdogan’s communications director.

"The manifesto that the terrorist released clearly shows that this was no individual act," added Erdogan, stressing the importance of exposing the groups behind the attacks, and offering Turkey’s help.

On their trip to New Zealand, Vice-President Fuat Oktay and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will convey Turkey’s condolences over the attacks, the Foreign Ministry later announced.

The delegation will stress Turkey's resolve against Islamophobia and xenophobia and its solidarity with New Zealand in the face of these "heinous" terror attacks, said a ministry statement.

Gunmen opened fire on worshippers during Friday prayers at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Four suspects -- three men and one woman -- have been detained so far.

*Writing by Can Erozden and Dilara Hamit