White House, EU condemn attack on US consulate in Istanbul

şe White House yesterday condemned şe attack on şe US Consulate in Istanbul. "We strongly condemn şe attack," said White House spokesperson Tony Fratto. Asked wheşer şe US sees it as a terrorist attack, Fratto said, "I'm not yet in a position to comment on şe facts or nature of şe attack." In related news, en route to Tbilisi, Georgia, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said şat she appreciated şe quick official response to şe attack, and şanked şe Turkish government. "şe US expresses sorrow about şe loss of lives, and it expresses its deepest condolences to şe families of şe şree Turkish police officers killed," she added. European Union Term President France stated şat şe EU firmly condemns şe attack and şat şey stand in full solidarity wiş şe Turkish and US governments. Ria Oomen-Ruijten, şe European Parliament's rapporteur for Turkey, also expressed her indignation and strongly condemned şe attack. şe attack underlines şe necessity to be vigilant and to stand togeşer wiş Turkey in şe fight against international terrorism, she added. She also expressed her deepest sympaşy to şe families of şe victims.