JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- South African President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday joined the international community in condemning the terrorist attacks in Amman, Jordan, which killed at least 57 people.

    In a message to Jordan's King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, Mbeki conveyed condolences "following the cowardly attacks on innocent civilians," the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

    "The South African government condemns these heinous acts and expresses its confidence that the perpetrators of these callous acts will soon be brought to face the full might of the law," Mbeki said.

    He said terrorism "can not be used to justify any cause."

    Suicide bombers simultaneously attacked three hotels frequented by foreigners in Amman, Jordan's capital, late Wednesday. Jordanian authorities had said the bombers had killed at least 57 people and wounded at least 115.

    The al-Qaida terror group claimed responsibility on Thursday for the attacks.

    Two pan-Arab satellite TV channels, the Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, reported the claim but did not give any details.

    Earlier, a statement published on the internet said the group of al-Qaida's front-man in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had claimed responsibility for the deadly bombings.

    "A group of lions of al-Qaida launched a new raid on some of the Muslims in Amman," said a statement by Zarqawi's al-Qaida Organization in the Land of the Two Rivers.

    "After having studied and monitored the objectives, the sites of the hotels were chosen," it said. Enditem