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| Europe |
| Rome holds solidarity march for London |
| 2005-07-09 |
| Italians paid tribute to the victims of the London terror bombings on Friday with a show of solidarity in Rome attended by representatives of three major religions. The hundreds of Romans who gathered outside city hall, were joined by Rome's chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni; the imam of Rome's mosque, Mahmud Hammad Sheweith; and Monsignor Rino Fisichella, representing the Catholic diocese of Rome. A torchlight procession through the centre of the city was scheduled to follow speeches and prayers on the famed Campidoglio square. The initiative was proposed by Mayor Walter Veltroni just hours after four separate explosions in London left at least 50 people dead and sent shockwaves through European capitals, including Rome. "We have to be careful and know that terrorism is a threat for the whole of the West," Veltroni said. "So we must boost security but we also need the political intelligence to keep open the door to dialogue." Italian institutions lowered flags to half-mast in the capital and other cities on Friday in a further sign of respect and mourning. The Rome imam recalled the victims of the London bombings during prayers earlier on Friday, saying that nothing could justify the attacks. "The barbaric acts in London struck innocent victims and they must be condemned unequivocally," he said. "What sins had the innocent people hurrying to work or school committed, to be savagely struck down by a blind and unjustifiable violence?" he asked. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |