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Bush Calls Colombia Blast 'Barbaric Act of Terrorism'

Associated Press
Published | Updated

WASHINGTON – President Bush condemned as a "barbaric act of terrorism" the nightclub explosion in Colombia that killed at least 25 people.

Bush offered condolences in a statement Saturday to families and friends of those killed and wished a quick recovery to those wounded.

"I extend to President (Alvaro) Uribe and the people of Colombia our deepest sympathy for this horrible tragedy," said Bush, who was spending the weekend at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.

President Alvaro Uribe, who is cracking down on leftist insurgents blamed for the blast, visited the bombed-out Club Nogal at midnight with his top security officials.

Secretary of State Colin Powell also offered condolences in a phone call to Colombia's foreign minister, Carolina Barco. During the conversation, Powell pledged the U.S. government's "solidarity with the Colombian government as it continues its fight against terrorist organizations carrying out heinous acts such as this," said State Department spokesman Lou Fintor.

Likewise, Bush said America stands "with the Colombian people in their fight against narcoterrorists who threaten their democratic way of life" and offered U.S. help to bring to justice those responsible for the bombing.

Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos on Saturday blamed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, for planting the car bomb at the exclusive Bogota social club, which killed at least 25 people and injured more than 150.