BRUSSELS — Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt has condemned the London bombings as cowardly attacks on defenceless civilians.

Speaking in the Belgian Parliament, the Liberal (VLD) leader said Thursday morning’s attacks prove that the war on terror must continue and be intensified.

Offering his sympathies to the victims and their families, Verhofstadt compared the attacks to those in New York, Madrid and Istanbul.

The prime minister was met with the Council for Security and Intelligence on Thursday afternoon in response to the London terrorist bombings.

Verhofstadt wanted to be briefed on the latest threat analysis and implications, newspaper ‘De Tijd’ reported.

The Council for Security and Intelligence (College voor Veiligheid en Inlichtingen) is a supervisory authority determining Belgian intelligence policies.

Meanwhile, Parliament chairman Herman De Croo sent a message of sympathy to his British counterpart. He also asked for a minute silence in parliament in memory of the victims.

Francophone Socialist (PS) leader Elio Di Rupo officially expressed his concern about the attacks, as did Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht.

[Copyright Expatica News 2005]

Subject: Belgian news