By Xinhua,
Canberra : Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd condemned on Monday the bomb attack on Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel, saying it was a brutal attack on civilians.
Pakistan has blamed al-Qaida for a truck bomb attack which killed at least 40 people and injured more than 260 when it exploded at the gates of the hotel.
“It is a threat against which the Australian government will stand united with the democratically elected government of Pakistan,” he said.
“This attack on innocent people is a reminder of the terrorist threat to democracy and security in Pakistan,” Rudd told parliament.
Australia was looking at practical ways to help Pakistan fend off the militants, Rudd said.
“What happens in Pakistan, including its border areas with Afghanistan, has an impact on its regional neighbors and the world, and therefore, of course, there’s a direct relevance to Australia,” he said.