Arab world decries terror attack on Turkish wedding

By Anees Bargouthi and Sami Marouf

CAIRO (AA) - Arab countries lined up to condemn Saturday’s terrorist attack on a wedding ceremony in Gaziantep in southeastern Turkey that left 51 people dead.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Saudi Arabia strongly denounced the attack and offered condolences to the Turkish government and people.

An official source at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the kingdom stands in solidarity with Turkey and fully supports all measures taken against terrorism, according to the official SPA news agency.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the terrorist attack on the Turkish wedding ceremony and offered condolences to families of the victims.

In a statement, ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid stressed that “the Egyptian people stand by the Turkish people in these critical moments”.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry also expressed condemnation of the attack, underlining Qatari support for Turkey’s efforts to maintain its stability and security.

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Jordan also condemned the attack.

Yemen’s Foreign Ministry, for its part, reiterated support for Turkey in its fight against terrorism.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also decried the attack and offered condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan, the Turkish people and families of the victims.