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Czechs condemn terrorist attack in Pakistan

Other News Materials 21 September 2008 17:49 (UTC +04:00)

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.

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