Paris Attacks a 'Violation of all Religions', Says Saudi FM

The "heinous" Paris attacks are a violation of all religions and underline the need to intensify efforts against "terrorism," Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said Saturday as he arrived for talks on ending Syria's civil war.

"I wanted to express our condolences to the government and people of France for the heinous terrorist attacks that took place yesterday which are in violation and contravention of all ethics, morals and religions," Adel al-Jubeir told reporters in Vienna.

"The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has long called for more intensified international efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and shapes," he said.

The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, also condemned Friday night's attacks as "heinous crimes" and said that the UAE would "spare no effort... to fight terrorism in all its forms," state news agency WAM reported.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed the attacks in a statement posted online Saturday.

The Qatari foreign ministry condemned the "armed attacks and bombings" in a statement cited by official agency QNA, saying they "contradict with all moral and humanitarian principles and values".

There were also condemnations from Bahrain and Kuwait, and from Abdellatif Zayani, the head of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which also includes Oman.

Earlier, the head of Sunni Islam's leading seat of learning, Cairo's Al-Azhar, condemned "hateful" attacks in Paris that killed more than 120 people and urged global unity against extremism.

"We denounce this hateful incident," Ahmed al-Tayyeb told a conference in comments broadcast by Egyptian state television. "The time has come for the world to unite to confront this monster.

"Such acts are contrary to all religious, humanitarian and civilized principles," Tayyeb said at the opening of the conference in the southern city of Luxor focused on combating "extremist thought".

A state of emergency has been declared across France in the aftermath of Friday night's coordinated shootings and bombings on Paris streets.