UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday strongly condemned the weekend bombings in Turkey and India and presented his condolences to families of the victims, according to dpa. Istanbul was hit by a pair of bomb attacks on Sunday, killing at least 16 civilians and injuring more than 100. Ban said in a statement he "deeply regrets the loss of life and conveys his sympathies to the families of the victims and the wounded." He also condemned in the strongest terms the series of bombings in two cities in India, that killed about 50 people in Ahmedabad on Saturday and at least two in Banaglore on Friday. Scores more were injured. A spokesperson said Ban "reiterates that no cause or grievance can justify terrorist acts of this kind and appeals for restraint in the face of such provocation." "The secretary general sends his deepest sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives, the wounded and the people and Government of India," the statement said.
