The attacks in Norway are a grim reminder that extremism knows no national, cultural or religious bounds, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said on Monday.
They also showed that people were not doing enough to close the gap on prejudice and intolerance, and to foster broadmindedness, acceptance of one another and love, he said.
He said Norwegians were a peace-loving people to whom South Africans owed a debt of gratitude for their support of the struggle for democracy.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to the families, relatives and friends of the victims of the attacks, and to all the shattered people of Norway.”
A 32-year-old man, Anders Behring Breivik, has admitted to being behind the twin attacks in which 76 people died on Friday.
He appeared in a closed hearing in an Oslo court on Monday. — Sapa