World leaders condemn Mumbai attacks
Posted: 27 November 2008 1556 hrs

	Photos  of
	Related News • Two foreigners confirmed dead in Mumbai attacks • Gunman says Mumbai attackers Indian Muslims • Up to 100 killed, foreigners taken hostage in Mumbai attacks • MFA says Singaporean among hostages in Mumbai • Terrified guests recount night of horror in hotel Special Report • Mumbai Attacks

WASHINGTON: The United States and Britain have led global condemnation of the attacks in India's financial capital Mumbai, where blasts and shootings targeted at foreigners left up to 100 people dead.

President-elect Barack Obama condemned Wednesday’s attacks on the Indian financial centre and said the United States must work to strengthen ties with India and other nations to "root out and destroy terrorist networks".

A statement delivered by Obama's chief national security spokesperson, Brooke Anderson, stated: "President-Elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of India."

UN chief Ban Ki-moon said such violence was "totally unacceptable", while Britain condemned the late Wednesday attacks on its former colony as "outrageous" and the European Union expressed its "horror and indignation".

A group calling itself the "Deccan Mujahedeen" claimed responsibility.

One British guest of the Taj Mahal hotel told local Indian television that armed men had herded people, including himself, to the hotel's upper floors.

"They said they wanted anyone with British and American passports," he said.

The United States and Britain said they had no reports of casualties among their citizens, although Japan reported one of its nationals killed and another hurt, and two Australians and a European Parliament staffer were also injured.

At least two foreign nationals, from Japan and Australia, have been confirmed killed and 11 others wounded in the attacks, the Press Trust of India reported on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had sent Indian premier Manmohan Singh a message assuring that "the UK stands solidly with his government as they respond, and to offer all necessary help".

"These outrageous attacks in Mumbai will be met with a vigorous response," he said.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the attacks "remind us, yet again, of the threat we face from violent extremists", and said Britain and India would "continue their joint efforts to counter the actions of terrorists".

The French presidency of the European Union said it had learnt of the attacks "with horror and indignation" and "condemns them in the strongest possible terms".

It said the EU "shares in the mourning of the Indian nation and stands by its side during this dramatic test".

In a separate statement, the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, said: "Terrorism is never justified and is no means to achieve any goal."

"This is a cowardly act. It's indiscriminate, it's a terrorist act, it's an assault on democracy," said acting Australian Foreign Minister Simon Crean.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon condemned the "savage terrorist attacks" and stressed his country's ties with India.

"Canada and India share a commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Among our mutual priorities is close cooperation to promote international security and to fight terrorism," he said.

Spain's Crown Prince Felipe also voiced "tremendous sadness and condemnation of the attacks which seem to have left such a high number of victims".

Brazil reaffirmed its "strong condemnation of all forms of terrorism" and offered its condolences to the families of the victims, as did Argentina.

Colombia said that it had "also suffered at the hands of terrorism and supports the Republic of India in its fight against this international scourge, recognising that terrorism is a criminal and unjustifiable action".


- AFP/so