LONDON, Nov 9: Much of the world on Sunday condemned the “terrorist” bomb attack in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh, which the Saudi ambassador here said was a plot by an “evil cult” to destroy the kingdom.

Speaking for most of the Middle East, the secretary-general of the Arab League, Amr Mussa, said the attack in which at least 11 people were killed and more than 120 injured, was designed to destabilize, terrorize and kill.

“The Arab Leage denounces in the strongest terms the terrorist campaign targeting Saudi Arabia,” said the League’s spokesman Hossam Zaki.

Universally seen as being the work of Al Qaeda organization, the attack provoked expressions of determination to fight against terrorism.

“We resolutely denounce such an act of terrorism, which victimises innocent people, and we are determined to continue cooperating with the international community in eradicating terrorism,” said Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.

Prince Turki al-Faisal, the Saudi ambassador to Britain, said the attack had been carried out by an “evil cult” whose “sole aim is the destruction of the kingdom”.

He called on “all the people of the world to work with us in fighting this evil and ridding the international community of this plague” and said the attack “goes against the grain of all humanity.”

“We understand that most of these victims are women and children, he added. “We are committed to fighting those behind this evil cult with all and every possible resource.

“This evil must be stopped,” he said. “The government of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is totally committed to this.”

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw described the bombing as an act of “hideous barbarity”.

“These murderers have shown absolute contempt for Islam and for people of all nations,” Straw said. “This was indiscriminate murder of men, women and children of various nationalities during the holy month of Ramazan.”

Iran said the attack was “inhuman.”

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, speaking on behalf of the 15-nation European Union, expressed “the deepest and most sincere condolences to the victims of these vile and terrible attacks.”

Russian foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Yavovenko said Moscow “strongly condemns this major terrorist act.” “We view this as another crime of international terrorism.—AFP