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     'Our Sympathy is with the Victims': World Leaders React to Nice Attack

   by VOA News

   Leaders from around the world are expressing their condolences for the
   victims of Thursday's massacre in Nice, and condemning the attacker.

   U.S. President Barack Obama posted a statement on Twitter Thursday
   night sending "thoughts and prayers" to the families of those killed in
   the attack and referring to France as the United States "oldest ally."

   "On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience
   and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the
   entire world, and we know that the character of the French Republic
   will endure long after this devastating and traffic loss of life,"
   Obama said.

   Secretary of State John Kerry, who had been in France to celebrate
   Bastille Day, called the attack "horrendous," and said, "the United
   States will continue to stand firmly with the French people during this
   time of tragedy."

   European Council president Donald Tusk noted the significance of the
   attack's timing and called on all people to stand with France in its
   time of need.

   "It is a tragic paradox that the victims of the attack people
   celebrating liberty, quality and fraternity," Tusk said while attending
   a meeting with Asian and European leaders in Mongolia. "We will stand
   united with the families of victims, the French people and the
   government in the fight against violence and hatred."

   Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, who was also
   attending the meeting in Mongolia, said he called his counterparts in
   France to express his grief.

   ''

   "We are very sorry and very much with the French people and the French
   government," he said.

   China's Premier Li Keqiang said "we strongly condemn terrorism of all
   forms. We express our condolences to the victims and we will fight all
   kinds of terrorism."

   Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also took to Twitter to send a
   message to those in France affected by the attack - in both English and
   French.

   In two separate tweets, Trudeau said, "Canadians are shocked by
   tonight's attack in Nice. Our sympathy is with the victims, and our
   solidarity with the French people." One of the messages was in English,
   while the other was in French.

   The international response comes after a man drove a truck through a
   crowed part of Nice's seaside promenade, leaving at least 84 people
   dead and dozens more injured, some severely.

   Authorities in France are still sorting through all the details
   surrounding the attack.

   In what has become a common occurrence of late, French political
   figures expressed sadness to the people of Nice after the horror they
   had witnessed.

   "Deep emotion and infinite sadness in the face of the attack in
   [Nice]," Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French president, said in a post
   on Twitter.

   "On behalf of Parisians, all of our most fraternal support to the
   people of Nice," Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote. "Our cities are
   united."
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   19450.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/world-leaders-react-to-nice-attack/3419450.html