Ankara, Nov 22: Turkey's top consultative body said the country would not be intimidated by a wave of deadly bombings in Istanbul and called for greater international cooperation to fight terrorism. "International terrorism will not achieve its aim in our country... In the face of the determination and solidarity of our state and people," the National Security Council said in a statement after a five-and-a-half hour meeting.

The council, which brings together the country's military and political leaders, also said the attacks underscored the need for increasing regional and international cooperation to lead a more efficient fight against terrorism on the international front.

At least 27 people were killed and about 450 were injured when suicide bombers detonated explosives outside the British Council and the headquarters of a British-based bank in Istanbul.

The attacks were preceded by similar car bomb attacks against two synagogues last weekend in which 25 people lost their lives. Both attacks have been claimed by Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and a local radical Islamist group- Islamic Front of Raiders of the great orient. Bureau Report