The Czech government Sunday condemned "the terrorist
attack" on a five-star hotel in Islamabad which killed more than 50
people, including the Czech ambassador.
"The Czech Republic sharply condemns any type of terrorist
activities," Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said in a statement,
according to dpa.
Czech Ambassador to Pakistan, Ivo Zdarek, was identified as one of the victims
of Saturday's suicide bombing that left at least 53 dead and many more injured,
Pakistani and Czech officials confirmed.
The 47-year-old diplomat had stayed in the Marriott temporarily because his
residence was undergoing refurbishment and a security upgrade, said Zuzana
Opletalova, a spokeswoman for the Czech Foreign Ministry.
After the blast, Zdarek called the embassy, saying he was only lightly injured
but when his colleagues arrived the site was engulfed in flames, the government
said.
The ambassador, who was married with two sons, was new to Pakistan. He assumed
the post in August after four years in Vietnam.