(31 Jul 2004)
1. US State Department spokesman entering briefing room
2. Cutaway reporters
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Adam Ereli, US State Department spokesman:
"The United States deplores this act of terrorist violence and we extend our sympathies to the families of the injured policemen. Our embassy reports all American staff are accounted for and uninjured and that a bomb squad is on the scene. As to other explosions you were asking about earlier, Uzbek authorities have confirmed there were at least two additional suicide bombings at the Israeli embassy and the Uzbek prosecutor's office in Tashkent."
4. Cutaway
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Adam Ereli, US State Department spokesman:
"We in Uzbekistan, as in other countries around the world, have outstanding relations with local authorities to provide constant surveillance and constant alertness to this kind of attack, and that's part of the regular way we do business. And events like this demonstrate the necessity of doing business like that."
6. Cutaway
7. End of briefing
STORYLINE:
Suicide bombers targeted the US and Israeli embassies in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, along with the top prosecutor's office, in nearly simultaneous attacks on Friday.
Two Uzbeks died and at least nine others were wounded.
Within hours, Adam Ereli, the US State Department spokesman, condemned the attacks but said the United States embassy personnel have excellent working relations with local Uzbek police.
He said a bomb squad was on the scene and US authorities were cooperating.
The attacks came as this majority Muslim country is trying 15 suspects allegedly tied to al-Qaida for a wave of violence four months ago that included the first-ever suicide attacks in Central Asia, whose staunchly secular governments have been key allies in the U.S.-led war on terror in neighbouring Afghanistan.
The assailants targeted some of the most secure buildings in Tashkent, killing two guards were killed at the Israeli Embassy, injuring seven at the general prosecutor's office and two at the U.S. Embassy, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ilkhom Zakirov said.
A group that claimed responsibility for the March-April violence that left 47 dead said on an Islamic Web site it was also behind Friday's attacks, but it isn't a known extremist group here and the claim couldn't be verified.
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
Негізгі бет US reaction to Uzbek bombing at US embassy
Пікірлер: 1