World leaders have joined a chorus of condemnation of Saturday's bombing attacks on the Indonesian resort island of Bali that left at least 32 people dead and more than 100 injured.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a statement on Saturdaythat he is dismayed that Bali has become "the scene of terrorist outrage" almost three years after another series of bomb attacks killed 202 people on the island in October 2002.

The secretary-general "strongly condemns" the bombings and "sends his deepest sympathy to the injured and the bereaved of many nationalities aswell as to the Indonesian government," the statement said.

"He (Annan) urges the Indonesian authorities to act promptly inidentifying and bringing the perpetrators of this cowardly attack to justice," it said.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice late Saturday condemned the bombings that "claimed innocent lives and injured many more."

"The United States stands with the people and government of Indonesia as they work to bring to justice those responsible for these acts of terrorism," she said. "We will continue to work together in our common fight against terror."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Saturday condemned the "appalling" attacks and pledged his support for the Indonesian government's fight against terrorism.

"I condemn in the strongest terms today's appalling attacks inBali. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families," he said in a statement released by his office. "The British government stands ready to help in any way we can."

French President Jacques Chirac said in a letter to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that news of the Bali bombings "stunned and saddened" him. "France in the strongest possible way condemns these hateful acts," he said.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer denounced "in the strongestpossible terms the despicable attacks in Bali," he said. "The motive behind the attacks should be determined and those responsible brought to justice."

"Indonesia can count on German solidarity in the battle againstinternational terrorism," he said.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard told the NIne Network TV on Sunday that he is horrified with the fatal Bali bombings and isalso "very upset at the number of deaths and injures" in the tragedy.

Howard said the attacks demonstrated the need for the anti-terror war to continue.

Japan on Sunday denounced the Bali blasts as unpardonable acts ofterrorism.

"The government of Japan reiterates its firm condemnation ofatrocious terrorism that victimizes many innocent people," Foreign

Ministry spokesman Yoshinori Katori said in a statement.

"Terrorism cannot be justified for any reason," said Katori, adding that Tokyo will continue to make its utmost efforts to combatterrorism and support Indonesia in such efforts.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has written to Yudhoyono,saying the New Zealand government is appalled at such cowardly andindiscriminate acts of violence in Bali.

Clark has offered whatever assistance Indonesia requires in theaftermath of the Bali bombings.

Source: Xinhua