PM expresses sympathy to leaders of Iraq and US

2 September 2005

Tony Blair has written letters of condolence to the Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari and to US President George Bush.

Nearly 1000 people died in a stampede in Baghdad earlier this week, and many hundreds are also feared dead after Hurricane Katrina hit southern states in North America.

Before a speech in Watford today the Prime Minister, referring to Katrina, said:

"The whole of this country feels for the people of the Gulf coast of America who have been afflicted by what is a terrible, terrible natural tragedy, and we want to express our sympathy and our solidarity and give our prayers and thoughts to the people who are affected by what has happened out there on the Gulf coast.

"And as I said to the President yesterday, this country will stand ready to help in any way that we can. But I know that people, particularly people who will know from this country, know people in that area, will feel for them very deeply at this time."

Jack Straw said this morning:

"These are very difficult and painful days for the people of that region. The EU has offered to help the United States with any assistance that might be required in what is perhaps the greatest civil emergency in US history."

Extra information

• Foreign Secretary condemns 'despicable attack' in Iraq