Pakistan attacks draw worldwide condemnation

An overwhelming sense of disbelief pervaded the responses of world leaders to the Tuesday's attack, which left 132 students and 9 members of staff dead.

The massacre at the Army Public School and College began when seven gunmen entered the school in the morning. They opened fire on students in a packed auditorium and went from classroom to classroom firing shots.

All seven attackers, wearing vests of explosives, died in the eight-hour assault.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said it had been "an act of horror and rank cowardice to attack defenseless children while they learn."

In Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced her shock at the nature of the terror attack - the deadliest in Pakistan's history.

"The news of the terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar has shaken me deeply," said Merkel. "The hostage-taking and murder of children and young people is a barbarity that cannot be surpassed."

'Dark day for humanity'

There were similar responses from other European countries, with British Prime Minister David Cameron saying the attack defied belief. "It is a dark, dark day for humanity when something on this scale happens with no justification," he said. "There is not a belief system in the world that can justify such an act."

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama gave a statement affirming that "we stand with the people of Pakistan."

"Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and loved ones," said Obama. "By targeting students and teachers in this heinous attack, terrorists have once again shown their depravity."

At home in Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called the attack a "national tragedy unleashed by savages."

"These were my children. This is my loss. This is the nation's loss, " said Sharif. He pledged to step up efforts against the Taliban. "The fight will continue. No one should have any doubt about it," Sharif warned. "We will take account of each and every drop of our children's blood."

Condemned by Afghan Taliban

The leaders of Pakistan's neighbors, Afghanistan and India, also voiced their solidarity. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to denounce the violence.

The attack has been claimed by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as revenge for Pakistan's major military offensive against it in the region. The group said it had told the attackers to target older children.

Taliban militants in neighboring Afghanistan decried the killing spree, calling it "un-Islamic."

rc/bk (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)