GUYANA has joined the international community in standing in solidarity with the Government and people of France, following the grave acts of terrorism committed in Paris on Friday.A statement from Guyana says the country strongly condemns the despicable acts of evil committed against innocent citizens as it sends condolences to the people of France and French citizens throughout the world.

“These acts remind us that there still exist among us evil forces which use the cloak of a peace-loving religion as justification for their murderous agenda. The Government of Guyana recognises Islam as a religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims lead peaceful and law-abiding lives in their ummah. We reject those who use Islam or any other religion as a front to attack the people of any nation,” the Guyana statement said.

The BBC has reported that French President Francois Hollande has since imposed a state of emergency after the worst peacetime attack in France since World War Two. It is also the deadliest in Europe since the 2004 Madrid bombings.

The violence began soon after 21:00 hrs (20:00 GMT) as people were enjoying a Friday night-out in the French capital. The BBC said a gunman opened fire on Le Carillon bar in the rue Alibert, near the Place de la Republique, before heading across the road to Le Petit Cambodge (Little Cambodia), killing 15 people.

“We heard the sound of guns, 30-second bursts. It was endless,” resident Pierre Montfort said.

A few streets away, the BBC said, diners sitting on the terrace of La Casa Nostra pizzeria in rue de la Fontaine au Roi were also fired on, with the loss of five lives.

France’s Chief Prosecutor, Mr Francois Molins, said 19 people were killed at the Belle Equipe bar, while the toll from the attack on the Bataclan concert hall stood at 89.

At around the same time, on the northern outskirts of Paris, 80,000 people who had gathered to watch France play Germany at the Stade de France heard three explosions outside the stadium. President Hollande was among the spectators, and was whisked away after the first blast, the BBC said.

According to Mr Molins, investigators found the bodies of three suicide bombers around the Stade de France.