Saturday, November 29, 2008

Bush Saddened by Mumbai Attack, Vows Action


US President George W. Bush said on Friday that he was saddened by the terror attacks on Mumbai, in a statement released from Camp David where he spent the Thanksgiving holiday with his family he vowed to fight against extremists "who offer nothing but violence and hopelessness."

"Laura and I are deeply saddened that at least two Americans were killed and others injured in Wednesday's horrific attack in Mumbai, he said.

"We also mourn the great loss of life suffered by so many people from several other countries, and we have the wounded in our thoughts and prayers," he said.

The statement was issued after three Americans were confirmed dead in the two-day attacks in the Indian's financial capital.

A New York rabbi, Gavriel Noach, and his Israeli wife, Rivka, who ran the local headquarters for a New York-based Jewish organization, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, were confirmed among the dead.

The other Americans, Alan Scherr, 58, and his 13-year-old daughter Naomi, who were working on a meditation program in Mumbai, were also killed in the Oberoi hotel on Wednesday night.

Bush said in the statement that the US had been closely working with India and the international community to ensure the safe release of "those still under threat."

"We will continue to cooperate against these extremists who offer nothing but violence and hopelessness," he said.

(Xinhua inputs)

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