Malaysia strongly condemned the acts of violence in the bomb attacks in Ankara, Turkey during a peaceful rally yesterday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he was saddened by the loss of lives in the incident, where foreign news reports had said 97 people were killed so far.

"It is always important to respect the rights of others to peaceful assembly within the confines of the law.

"No one should resort to violence just because you do not share the same views. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those affected," he said in his official Facebook account today.

The news agency, Reuters quoted Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) as saying that the death toll in the twin bomb attacks on an activists' rally in the capital Ankara had risen to 97.