G8 unites to condemn terror attacks

Last updated at 13:39 07 July 2005


World leaders stood shoulder to shoulder in defiance of terrorism at the G8 summit in Scotland.

Tony Blair was flanked by fellow members of the G8 group of leading industrialised nations as he issued a "joint and united" statement in response to the London attacks.

With US president George Bush at his right shoulder, he was also joined by leaders from five other nations who were attending the Gleneagles summit for talks on climate change.

The Premier said: "We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks.

"We send our profound condolences to the victims and their families.

"All of our countries have suffered from the impact of terrorism.

"Those responsible have no respect for human life.

"We are united in our resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism that is not an attack on one nation but on all nations and on civilised people everywhere."

Mr Blair was speaking before making an emergency helicopter dash to London to meet the emergency services and the ministers dealing with the devastation.

'We shall prevail'

Talks will continue in his absence, overseen by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, and the Prime Minister will return to Gleneagles tonight.

In the televised statement on behalf of the leaders gathered there, Mr Blair said: "We will not allow violence to change our societies or our values.

"Nor will we let it stop the work of this summit.

"We will continue our deliberations in the interests of a better world.

"Here at this summit, the world's leaders are striving to combat world poverty and save and improve human life.

"The perpetrators of today's attacks are intent on destroying life.

"The terrorists will not succeed. Today's bombings will not weaken in any way our resolve to uphold the most deeply-held principles of our societies and to defeat those who would impose their fanaticism and extremism on all of us.

"We shall prevail and they shall not."

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