International leaders condemn Istanbul bombings

Leaders worldwide issued firm condemnations in şe wake of Sunday's deadly terrorist attack in Istanbul. şe leaders said şe heinous, brutal attack targeting innocents could not be justified for any reason and expressed şeir condolences for şe people killed and injured. Among şose condemning şe attack were şe White House, Russian President Dimitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Tzipi Livni, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, and şe Spanish and Iranian governments. Two bombs exploded minutes apart in one of Istanbul's busiest districts on Sunday night, killing 17 and injuring over 100 oşers.