The international community condemned the Sunday blast in the Chechen capital of Grozny that killed Moscow-backed Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov and some other people, pledging to intensify the fight against terrorism. 

Sunday's blast occurred at about 10:40 am Moscow time (0640 GMT) as a mine planted under a VIP-seating area in the Dynamo stadium in Grozny blew up during a ceremony commemorating Russia's 59th anniversary of victory over the Nazi Germany in World War II.

The United States on Sunday strongly condemned the deadly attack, branding it a terrorist attack. "We mourn the loss of life and extend our condolences to the families of the victims," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "The US resolutely rejects all acts of terrorism and those who commit them. No national, ethnic, religious or other cause can ever justify the use of terror."

In a written statement, the European Commission (EC), the executive arm of the European Union, expressed its "sincere condolences" to the families of the victims.

The EC re-affirmed "its condemnation of all forms of terrorism regardless of its alleged motives and whoever its perpetrators."

"This heinous attack illustrates the need to further improve international coordination against terrorism worldwide," said the statement.

The EC said it will continue to support efforts to find a political solution "which is agreeable to the majority of the Chechen population and respects the territorial integrity of the Russian federation."

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Sunday, "We unreservedly condemn all terrorist acts, and offer our condolences to all those who have suffered loss. The situation in Chechnya can never be resolved by violence and assassination."

French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Paris "reaffirms that no form of terrorism, whatever the cause it claims to serve, can be justified."

France emphasized that "the conflict in Chechnya can only be resolved in a lasting way by a political solution which allows for a way out of the spiral of violence in the respect of the integrity of the territory of the Russian Federation."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Turkey did not approve any act of terrorism including those linked with the Chechnya problem.

The statement said that Turkey has repeatedly stressed that the Chechnya problem should be solved within the territorial integrity of Russia, on the basis of respect to human rights and through peaceful ways.

During a telephone conversation, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero expressed "profound and sincere condolences to the Russian people over the barbarous terrorist attack" at Grozny's stadium on behalf of the whole Spanish people.

Zapatero vowed to expand joint efforts with Russia in fighting terrorism at the bilateral and international levels.

In Russia, many politicians as well as various circles of the society condemned the Sunday blast.

State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov described the "inhuman" terrorist attack as a challenge to world civilization.

The Chechen government and presidential administration issued a statement on Sunday, denouncing the blast and pledging to intensify the fight against terrorism.

The tragedy in Grozny and the death of Kadyrov "will unite the people of Chechnya in the anti-terrorist fight and the revival of the republic," the statement read.

Also on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the international community to jointly rebuff international terrorism. The world community's task is to "give a worthy rebuff to the terrorists and rid the world of this plague," Putin underlined.

"We have no right to turn a blind eye on the Nazi swastika and the fascism that is still spreading in the world, or to the fact that no less a terrible evil -- international terrorism -- is added to them and is causing death and destruction," Putin added.

(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2004)