PM Turnbull condemns Ankara bombing

Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull joined the wave of international leaders to condemn the deadly twin suicide bombings in Turkey.

|||

Canberra - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has joined the wave of international leaders to condemn the twin suicide bombings in Turkey that has claimed the lives of at least 97 people and wounded almost 250 others.

In a press release on Monday Turnbull described the terror attack, which was launched on a peaceful pro-Kurdish rally in the Turkish capital of Ankara on Saturday, as a “despicable act of cowardice.”

The prime minister said the Australian government condemned terrorism in all its guises, and in particular denounced the slaying of innocents.

“We continue to work with our friends and partners to combat this threat. This attack should only strengthen our resolve to work together,” Turnbull said.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the bombing, which no political group has claimed responsibility for as of Monday, was unbelievably “heinous” due to it taking place at a peace rally.

Bishop said the attack would not prevent the G20 leaders summit- the annual conference for economic cooperation between world- leading nations - in Ankara next month from going ahead.

“We should not allow terrorist attacks to deter world leaders from carrying out very important global work,” Bishop told Sky News on Monday.

No Australians have been reported among the fatalities in Ankara.

Bishop has joined Australia’s Defence Minister Marise Paine in the United States for Defence talks with US government officials.

The trip will outline Australia’s approach to ridding the scourge of Daesh, or Islamic State (IS), in Iraq and Syria and fostering increased cooperation between the two allies.

Xinhua