Off the wire
• Wolfsburg's Bas Dost sidelined with foot injury  • Roma coach Garcia sacked  • Pakistan nabs suspects of Indian airbase attack  • Update: Iran releases U.S. sailors held over entering territorial waters  • Roundup: 2 suicide bombings claim 13 lives in Afghanistan  • China ends emergency monitoring following DPRK nuclear test  • Denmark extends border controls on German-Danish border  • China ready to strengthen security cooperation with Arab countries  • 2nd LD-Writethru: China sets floor for retail fuel pricing  • Commentary: Time for EU to grant China market economy status  
You are here: 　 Home

Singaporean leaders send condolences to Turkish counterparts on bomb blast in Istanbul

Xinhua, January 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Singaporean leaders have written to their Turkish counterparts to condemn the terror attack at Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul on Tuesday, said the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Wednesday.

Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam wrote to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying he was "shocked and deeply saddened" by the incident. President Tan also extended deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those that died in the bomb blast.

"Singapore condemns this act of terror which has resulted in the loss of innocent lives. We stand in solidarity with Turkey and its people during this difficult time," said the President.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote to his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu, saying he was "shocked to hear of the bomb blast." Lee stressed that Singapore stands with Turkey against the global threat posed by terrorism.

Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan was also "shocked and deeply sadden" to hear the terrorist bombing. Balakrishnan extended the deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims.

The minister wrote that Singapore condemns this act of terror which has resulted in the loss of innocent lives. Singapore stands in solidarity with Turkey and its people during this difficult time.

According to MFA's statement, Lee and Balakrishnan have also written to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier to convey condolences for the victims and to condemn the attack.

At least 10 people have been killed and 15 others wounded in the explosion that hit Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet Square Tuesday. Nine German tourists were among those killed. Enditem