London Blast: Kufuor consoles explosion victims

Accra, July 7, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday expressed his condolences to families of casualties and the people of Britain following explosions in three underground trains and a bus in which 37 people died in Central London earlier in the day.

A statement issued in Accra from the Office of the Press Secretary to the President said; "the President and his entourage are safe and are not in any immediate danger. President Kufuor conveys his condolences to casualties and the British people".

It said; "though the attacks are aimed at distracting proceedings of the G-8 Summit, the President and his African colleagues are firm on projecting their stance."

The statement said President Kufuor was appointed at the just-ended fifth Summit of the African Union (AU) in Sirte, Libya as the Spokesperson for the African Leaders participating in the ongoing G-8 Summit at Gleneagles, Scotland.

It said President Kufuor was expected to articulate the Africa Continent's position on debt relief, good governance and increased development inflows to developing countries generally and Africa in particular.

"President Kufuor at his second consecutive participation in the G-8 Summit will present Africa's case to the world's most industrialised nations. The decision is highly welcome and it clearly shows the confidence his colleagues have in him", the statement said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair attending the G-8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland on Thursday said London had been hit by a series of terrorist attacks.

"It's reasonably clear that this is a series of terrorist attacks," Blair said after at least two people were killed and scores injured in at least six blasts which rocked London's buses and underground train stations.

"There are obviously casualties, people who have died and people who are seriously injured," he said.

Prime Minister Blair added the blasts were "particularly barbaric" coming as they did as the G-8 Leaders met in Scotland to discuss climate change and eradication of poverty, and the day after London was chosen to host the 2012 Olympic Games.