South Africa condemns terror attack in Russia

The South African government "condemns very strongly" the terrorist attack in Russia, a government statement has said. "South Africa stands firmly with the international community in condemning all forms and manner of terrorism, including this morning's (Monday morning's) attack in Russia," said the statement, a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua on Tuesday. "We believe that terrorism in any form and from whichever quarter cannot be condoned." A trolley bus in the southern Russian city of Volgograd was ripped apart by a bomb blast on Monday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 27. It came only one day after a suicide bomber struck the city's main train station, killing at least 17 people and injuring 45 others. The South African government sends it deepest condolences to the Russian government and the Russian people, particularly the families of the deceased and wishes the injured speedy recoveries, the statement said. South Africa and Russia maintain strong relations at the bilateral and multilateral levels, and cooperation between the two countries is growing, said the statement.