Obama offers his condolences to families of Pak air crash victims

Updated on: 29 July,2010 08:34 AM IST |
Agencies |

US President Barack Obama offered his 'deepest condolence' on Wednesday to families and friends of the 152 people killed in a plane crash near Islamabad, which included two Americans

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of those touched by this horrible accident," Obama said in a statement.

"The American people stand with the people of Pakistan in this moment of tragedy."

The passenger jet crashed earlier Wednesday into densely wooded hills outside Islamabad, killing everyone on board in the worst crash involving a Pakistani airliner in 18 years.

The US embassy also said that two US citizens were onboard the passenger plane.

Spokesman Richard Snelsire said, "I can confirm there were two American citizens on the plane and we are working with Pakistani authorities as we normally do in such cases."

Snelsire, however, did not provide further details about the two Americans or whether their bodies had been found so far.u00a0

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad also issued condolence statements.
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai telephoned Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to express his condolences.

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