ANKARA - Turkey has harshly condemned Saturday's attacks in Saudi Arabia.
Releasing a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Monday, ''it is the only consolation that Saudi security forces have rescued many hostages.''
''As a country, which has suffered much from terrorism, Turkey advocates that nothing can justify acts of terrorism, and that fight against terrorism requires international solidarity and co-operation,'' the statement added.
On Saturday, gunmen opened fire on the Al-Khobar Petroleum Center building, housing offices of major Western oil firms, before storming into compounds containing oil services offices and employees' homes. The gunmen then fled to the upmarket Oasis housing compound, taking some 50 foreigners hostage. On Sunday, commandos dropped from helicopters to storm the building. The Saudi Interior Ministry said 41 foreigners, many traumatized and injured, were rescued and 201 other residents who had been trapped in the compound were evacuated. The assault and hostage crisis ended 25 hours later with 22 people killed, the majority of them foreigners.
(UK) 31.05.2004