President offers condolences to Turkish leader following mine explosion

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili has expressed his condolences to the President of Turkey, Abdul Gul, following the mine tragedy.

Margvelashvili spoke to Gul on the phone and offered his personal condolences. He also released a public letter of condolence in response to the mine explosion in Soma, in which more than 230 people died.

"I express my condolences over the tragedy from the explosion in the city of Soma of Manisa province, which caused a huge loss to the country – more than 200 miners were killed, hundreds were injured and many of them are still missing,” Margvelashvili said.

"In this time of great sorrow, I would like to sincerely express my condolences on behalf of the Georgian nation towards the families of the killed, towards the Turkish Government and the Turkish people,” the President’s letter read.