The Communist Party of Canada condemns the recent terrorist bombings in London, which killed over 50 people and seriously injured hundreds of others. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed in this tragedy, and to the heroic working people of London.

Our Party condemns all attacks carried out against civilians for political purposes, both in the form of war and terror conducted by imperialist states, and terrorist actions by extremist groups. Over the past four years, well over 100,000 civilians have been killed by the imperialist occupiers of Afghanistan and Iraq. U.S. and British missiles and bombs have rained death upon homes and marketplaces, wedding celebrations, and those travelling from one location to another, not unlike the victims of the London bombings. Reports continue to emerge regarding criminal actions by the occupation forces, such as the recent death of 13 Iraqis who had been rounded up by British troops and held in trucks during 45 degree heat. Such killings have been virtually ignored by the corporate media, in shameful contrast to the enormous coverage given to the events in London.

The London bombings served to undermine the struggle for peace and liberation, by creating fear and disorientation, and by providing imperialism with a powerful new pretext to intensify repression and aggression. The bombings also helped imperialism to elevate the so-called "war on terror" to the top of the global agenda, at the expense of crucial issues such as poverty in Africa, climate change, environmental degradation, and efforts to end the occupation of Iraq. It is no coincidence that the media is now full of new justifications for torture, national security certificates, and a wide range of other attacks on democratic rights and freedoms.

Fortunately, millions of British and European working people have refused to be pushed into giving stronger support for imperialist war and occupation. There is growing recognition that the "war on terrorism" divides peoples and nations, and makes the world less secure. We reject all efforts to use this tragedy to whip up racist hatred against the Arab and Muslim communities, to discard the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" and to trample upon hard-won democratic rights.

Peace cannot be achieved by destroying civil liberties at home and launching criminal wars of aggression abroad. Building a world free from terror and violence must begin with the withdrawal of the U.S., Britain and their allies from Iraq. The rising death toll in Iraq proves that the peace movement is absolutely correct to call for the immediate restoration of the independence and sovereignty of the Iraqi people. We also demand full Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, and the withdrawal of all occupation forces, including Canadian troops, from Afghanistan and Haiti.

By opposing all forms of international treaties and cooperation, in favour of self-serving unilateralism, the Bush administration is increasing global tensions and dangers. We call instead for a new set of international relations, based on the principles of peace and disarmament, economic and social equality, and full respect for the sovereignty and self-determination of all nations and peoples. We urge an end to militarism, and a focus on political solutions to local and regional conflicts.

This is not a time for supporters of peace, justice and democracy to sit back and ride out the storm. The Communist Party of Canada urges full support for all efforts take the message of peace into the streets!