BEN ALI CONDEMNS LONDON BOMBINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 001503

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG (LAWRENCE)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER TS
SUBJECT: BEN ALI CONDEMNS LONDON BOMBINGS


Classified By: Ambassador William J. Hudson for reasons 1.4 (b); (d)


1. (U) All major press July 8 carried President Ben Ali's
message to Britain's Queen Elizabeth and PM Blair, in which
he "condemned the odious crime" which had resulted in
horrible damage and loss of life, and "expressed Tunisia's
sympathy for the United Kingdom, the families of the victims
and the British people." There was no editorial comment June

8.


2. (C) Comment: We are engaging both Tunisian contacts and
Arab diplomats here to urge more public statements condemning
violence of all kinds in the name of Islam or in supposed
defense of Arab causes. The Egyptian DCM, after accepting
our condolences on the killing of Egypt's senior diplomat in
Iraq, said "the reaction from Cairo will come slowly, but it
will come." Tunis will report further reaction after a
review of the weekend press.
HUDSON