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Russia calls on global community to forge united front in war on terror — diplomat

Counterterrorism efforts should not contain any double standards, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says

MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. Moscow has again called on world countries to stand together against terrorism, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

"Russia’s Foreign Ministry expresses sympathy to families of the victims in the terrorist attack in St. Petersburg on April 3," Zakharova said. "We wish the injured a speedy recovery. We are grateful to leaders and citizens of foreign states, heads of international agencies who did not stand idly by in the wake of our tragedy."

"A barbaric, despicable crime in St. Petersburg’s metro system has again proved that terrorism is a mortal and global threat, which demands unity of the international community and urgent, effective joint efforts under the UN auspices," she added. "There should not be any so-called double standards, some covert agendas in the war on terror."

"We again call to stand together as a united bloc against terrorists, to support Russian initiatives in the counterterrorism sphere promoted both on the platform of the UN and at other international organizations," Zakharova said.

On Monday afternoon, a bomb went off in a metro train car when the train was moving from Tekhnologichesky Institut Station to Sennaya Ploshchad Station in St. Petersburg. According to a source in the law enforcement agencies, the bomb was activated by a suicide bomber. According to the Russian health ministry, the blast claimed the lives of 14 people. Over 50 passengers were injured.