US ambassador thanks king Mohammed for his sympathy and condemnation of terrorism

The US Ambassador to Morocco, Ms. Margaret Tutwiler, on Tuesday expressed deep appreciation for the statement of sympathy and condemnation of terrorism issued the same day by King Mohammed VI, following terrorist acts perpetrated against American buildings and institutions. "All Americans, whether at home or abroad, are mourning the tragic loss of innocent life," Ms. Tutwiler said in a communique sent to MAP.

The US ambassador also lauded the longstanding relations between Morocco and the United States, which have, she said, "a long history of friendship," and expressed gratefulness "for His majesty's statement, and for the many expressions of sympathy which the American embassy has received from Moroccans for the people of the United States."

Following the terrorist attacks on key targets in the United States Tuesday, King Mohammed VI sent US President George Walker Bush a message of condolences, wherein the king condemned the terrorist acts having targeted American institutions and buildings.

The message carried the king's sincere condolences, heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to President Bush and to the families of the victims and Morocco's strong condemnation of "these barbarous and odious acts that are contrary to all human principles and values."

"In these painful circumstances, I express to your excellency my utter solidarity as well as that of the Moroccan people with the friendly American people in this tragic ordeal," the sovereign said renewing "constant condemnation of abject terrorism."

Relatedly, the official spokesman of the royal palace, Hassan Aourid, made a statement pointing out that the Moroccan monarch, people and government condemn this odious terrorist act and abject crime and express their most saddened condolences and heartfelt sympathy to President George W. Bush, to the American people and to the families of the victims of this catastrophe that affects the friendly United States of America.

The statement was issued after two airplanes crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York -- collapsing them both -- and a third airplane targeted the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C., bringing a portion of it crumbling to the ground.