ANKARA
U.S. President Barack Obama was among world leaders who offered their condolences and support to Turkey in the wake of the Ankara bomb attack.
In a telephone call to his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Obama “conveyed his deepest personal sympathies for those killed and injured in these heinous attacks”, the White House said in a statement released late Saturday.
It added that the “American people stand in solidarity with the people of Turkey in the fight against terrorism and shared security challenges in the region.”
Twin explosions outside Ankara’s main train station killed at least 95 people who had gathered Saturday for a peace rally in the Turkish capital.
The attack, which left another 246 wounded, many seriously, was the deadliest in recent Turkish history. Thousands in Europe on Sunday poured out on the streets to protest the bombings, including in Paris, Copenhagen and London.
In a letter to Erdogan on Sunday, Queen Elizabeth offered her "heartfelt sympathy" to the Turkish people, saying that her thoughts were "with all those affected by these terrible events".
"We extend our sincere condolences to the victims and families of those involved and wish those injured a speedy recovery," Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, and Australia (MIKTA) said.
"Terrorism is one of the major challenges of our time and we stand with the people of Turkey in solidarity as we face this common threat that knows no borders, respects no belief, and holds no respect for human rights."
On Saturday, twin explosions outside Ankara’s main train station killed at least 97 people who had gathered for a peace rally.
The attack, which left hundreds wounded -- many seriously -- was the deadliest in recent Turkish history.
On Sunday, thousands of people all over Europe poured onto the streets to protest the bombings, including in the major capitals of Paris, Copenhagen and London.
In the United States, the two largest Muslim civil rights organizations sent a letter to Turkey's Ambassador in Washington to pay their condolences.
"On behalf of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, I offer our deepest condolences on the horrendous loss of human life as a result of the terror attacks in Ankara," Council on American-Islamic Relations executive director Nihad Awad said in a letter to Ambassador Serdar Kilic.
Awad underlined that the American Muslim community was standing by Turkey at what he called this difficult time.
"We are confident that these attacks will not deter the Turkish people and their leadership from continuing on the path of freedom, development and growth," Awad added.
Meanwhile, Ossama Jamal, the Secretary General of the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, offered his deep sorrow.
"We unequivocally condemn such cowardly acts and all attempts to undermine the stability of Turkey and harmony among its people," Jamal said. "We stand in solidarity with you and offer our sincere condolences to the victims of heinous attack to their family and to the Turkish people."
The Turkish-American National Steering Committee -- which represents 155 Turkish-American umbrella organizations and associations in the U.S. -- has also condemned the attack.
On Sunday, China added its name to those criticizing the blasts, a statement published on its Foreign Ministry website saying Beijing "strongly condemns this terrorist attack targeting civilians".
"The Chinese side opposes all forms of terrorism and supports efforts by all countries including Turkey to safeguard security and stability," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying added.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Pope Francis led prayers for the victims of the attacks during his traditional Angelus blessing on Sunday.
Addressing crowds in St. Peter’s Square, he said: “We are pained for the numerous dead and injured... because the attackers hit defenseless people who were rallying for peace.”
In a statement on his official website, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani offered his condolences to Turkey, which he described as a "friend and brother country".
“The saddening terror incident, which left many dear Turkish people dead and injured many others in Ankara, caused deep sorrow,” he said.
Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government, said the “inhuman” attack was designed to create chaos in Turkey.
“Terrorism is a threat to all nations and humanity,” he said in a statement. “Fighting against this dangerous phenomenon should be the primary goal of all parties.”
The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, telephoned Erdogan to condemn the blasts and offer condolences, according to a source at the president’s office, while Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also sent a message of support to Erdogan.
Kadri Veseli, president of Kosovo’s National Assembly contacted his counterpart in the Turkish parliament, Ismet Yilmaz, to pass on his country’s condolences. “We share your pain,” he said.
In a message to Erdogan, Kyrgyzstan's President Almazbek Atambayev said his people "share the sorrow and the pain of the Turkish people on this difficult day”.
Bakir Izetbegovic, the Bosnian member of Bosnia's tripartite presidency, also sent a written condolence message to Yilmaz. “We believe you will bring an end to terror and the violence," he said. "We convey condolences for the relatives of the victims.
The governor of the autonomous Muslim region in the southern Philippines, Mujiv Hataman, also joined in condemning the attack.
"On the part of the regional government, we unite with our brothers' sorrow to the victims," he told reporters in Basilan, an island province of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
"We are sympathizing with the victims of the attacks and extending our deep condolences with their families," Hataman added.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, leaders including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, France’s President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the blasts and offered their sympathy and support.
In addition, Romania, Israel and Pakistan offered condolences to Turkey while condemning the attack.
