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TOKYO/KUALA LUMPUR: World leaders condemned Friday’s assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whereas paying tribute to him as an amazing chief.
Abe, 67, was shot from behind in Nara in western Japan whereas giving a marketing campaign speech. He was airlifted to a hospital and later pronounced lifeless.
Tributes poured in as governments expressed sorrow and solidarity with Japan over the lack of Abe, who was Japan’s longest-serving chief earlier than stepping down in 2020 for well being causes.
US President Joe Biden stated he was “shocked, outraged, and deeply saddened” and provided his condolences to Abe’s household. He ordered US flags to be flown at half-staff by July 10 to honor Abe and would cease on the Japanese embassy in Washington en path to remarks at CIA headquarters to signal a condolence ebook.

“This can be a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him,” Biden stated. “His imaginative and prescient of a free and open Indo-Pacific will endure. Above all, he cared deeply in regards to the Japanese individuals and devoted his life to their service.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who unexpectedly returned to Tokyo from marketing campaign occasions across the nation, condemned the “unforgivable act.” He stated campaigning in addition to Sunday’s elections for parliament’s higher home will proceed.
“The free and truthful election, which is the foundation of democracy, must be protected it doesn’t matter what. We won’t be defeated by violence,” Kishida stated.
Biden referred to as Kishida “a really stable man” and stated he didn’t imagine the killing was more likely to have “any profound, destabilizing impression on Japanese safety or Japanese solidarity.”
UN Secretary Common Antonio Guterres stated he was “deeply saddened by the horrific killing,” including that he would “at all times bear in mind his collegiality and dedication to multilateralism.”

European Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted: “The brutal and cowardly homicide” of Abe “shocks the world“
“I’ll by no means perceive the brutal killing of this nice man,” stated European Council President Charles Michel in a separate tweet.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the management position taken by the previous premier, saying the UK stands with Japan “at this darkish and unhappy time.”
“Extremely unhappy information about Shinzo Abe. His world management by unchartered instances shall be remembered by many,” Johnson tweeted.

In a message of condolence despatched to Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, Queen Elizabeth II stated she too was “deeply saddened” by the information of Abe’s demise, including that she had “fond reminiscences of assembly Mr.Abe and his spouse” once they visited the UK in 2016.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated “Japan has misplaced an amazing prime minister.”
Abe had “devoted his life to his nation and labored for stability on the planet,” he stated in a tweet.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed shock and solidarity with Japan over the killing.
“The lethal assault on Shinzo Abe has left me aghast and deeply unhappy,” the German chief tweeted. “I prolong deep sympathy to his household, my colleague Fumio Kishida and our Japanese associates.”
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi stated that his nation was “shocked by the horrible assault that hits Japan and its free democratic debate.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II stated he was shocked and saddened by the assault. “The world misplaced an amazing chief, and Jordan and I misplaced a real pal,” the monarch tweeted.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte termed the assault “cowardly,” and stated his ideas had been with Abe’s family members and the Japanese individuals.
“At immediately’s cupboard assembly we paused to replicate on this darkish day for Japanese democracy. I’ve fond reminiscences of our friendship and the work we did collectively,” he stated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to as the demise an “irreplaceable loss.”
In a telegram to Abe’s household, Putin referred to as Abe an “excellent statesman” who had accomplished quite a bit to develop “good neighborly ties between our international locations.”
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol termed the killing an “unacceptable act of crime.”
“I prolong my comfort and condolences to his household and the Japanese individuals for having misplaced their longest-serving prime minister and a revered politician,” Yoon stated.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a day of nationwide mourning on Saturday as a mark of deepest respect for Abe.
“Mr. Abe made an immense contribution to elevating India-Japan relations to the extent of a particular strategic and world partnership. Immediately, entire India mourns with Japan and we stand in solidarity with our Japanese brothers and sisters on this tough second,” Modi stated.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated Abe was one among Australia’s closest associates and a “big on the world stage,” including that “his legacy was one among world impression, and a profound and optimistic one for Australia. He shall be significantly missed.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky prolonged his condolences to Abe’s household.
“Horrible information of a brutal assassination of former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. I’m extending my deepest condolences to his household and the individuals of Japan at this tough time. This heinous act of violence has no excuse,” he tweeted.
Iran decried the taking pictures as “an act of terrorism.”
“As a rustic that has been a sufferer of terrorism and has misplaced nice leaders to terrorists, we’re following the information intently and with concern,” Iran’s Overseas Ministry spokesperson stated.
“I’m deeply saddened by the lack of my pricey pal Abe, the previous prime minister of Japan, in an armed assault. I condemn those that carried out this heinous assault,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated.

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The Chinese language embassy in Japan stated it was “shocked” by the taking pictures.
“Throughout his tenure, former Prime Minister Abe made contributions to the development and growth of China-Japan relations. We specific our condolences on his passing and specific sympathy and solicitude for his household,” an embassy spokesperson stated.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo prolonged condolences on Twitter.
“We’ll at all times bear in mind his contributions in strengthening RI-Japan cooperation,” he wrote. “Could the household of PM Abe and the Japanese individuals be given power on this tough time.”
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro expressed “excessive indignation” on the killing and declared three days of official mourning in solidarity with Japan.
Bolsonaro described Abe as a “sensible chief” and “nice pal of Brazil” in a tweet that included a photograph of the 2 males shaking arms on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, in 2019.
Brazil is residence to the biggest Japanese group exterior of the archipelago, with about 1.9 million immigrants and descendants.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau referred to as Abe’s assassination “extremely surprising.”

“The world has misplaced an amazing man of imaginative and prescient, and Canada has misplaced an in depth pal,” he stated, providing condolences to Abe’s widow and the individuals of Japan.
“Surprising information from Japan that former PM Shinzo Abe has been shot,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted after the assault.
“Our ideas are along with his household and the individuals of Japan at the moment.”
Former president Donald Trump additionally weighed in, saying the detained murderer “will hopefully be handled swiftly and harshly.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken mourned Abe as a visionary chief who boosted relations between the 2 allies.
Assembly his Japanese and South Korean counterparts collectively at a G20 assembly in Bali, Blinken stated Abe “introduced the connection between our international locations, america and Japan, to new heights.”
The Worldwide Olympic Committee praised Abe for his “imaginative and prescient, willpower and dependability” that allowed it to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics for one yr due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It stated the Olympic flag shall be flown at half workers at Olympic Home in Lausanne for 3 days.
(With AFP and AP)