The global community came out strongly in support of India on Wednesday, as she reeled under the impact of one the worst terror attacks on her soil late on Wednesday night in Mumbai that killed at least 80 and wounded another 900.The United States and Britain led the condemnation.
The United States said the attacks were "horrific", while US President-elect Barack Obama pledged to work with India to "root out and destroy terrorist networks".
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".
One British guest at the Taj Mahal hotel told television reporters. "They said they wanted anyone with British and American passports."
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.
Washington condemned the "horrific" attack and the White House said it had convened a meeting of top intelligence and counter-terrorism officials in response, and stood "ready to assist and support the Indian government".
Obama's chief national security spokesman, Brooke Anderson, said the president-elect's prayers were with the victims and their families.
"These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism," Anderson said.
"The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks."
UN Secretary General Ban also condemned the attacks, saying: "Such violence is totally unacceptable."
"The secretary-general reiterates his conviction that no cause or grievance can justify indiscriminate attacks against civilians. He calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice swiftly," read a statement issued by his office.
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.
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".
Bangladesh's foreign minister condemned the coordinated attacks in India's commercial capital Mumbai as "cowardly" and "mindless acts of terror".
"I condemn it as mindless acts of terror. I wish to underscore that terror can serve no purpose. Our hearts are with those so many innocent people, Indians and foreigners, who have been affected by these cowardly bombings" he said.
(Agencies)
The United States said the attacks were "horrific", while US President-elect Barack Obama pledged to work with India to "root out and destroy terrorist networks".
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".
One British guest at the Taj Mahal hotel told television reporters. "They said they wanted anyone with British and American passports."
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.
Washington condemned the "horrific" attack and the White House said it had convened a meeting of top intelligence and counter-terrorism officials in response, and stood "ready to assist and support the Indian government".
Obama's chief national security spokesman, Brooke Anderson, said the president-elect's prayers were with the victims and their families.
"These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism," Anderson said.
"The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks."
UN Secretary General Ban also condemned the attacks, saying: "Such violence is totally unacceptable."
"The secretary-general reiterates his conviction that no cause or grievance can justify indiscriminate attacks against civilians. He calls for the perpetrators to be brought to justice swiftly," read a statement issued by his office.
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.
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".
Bangladesh's foreign minister condemned the coordinated attacks in India's commercial capital Mumbai as "cowardly" and "mindless acts of terror".
"I condemn it as mindless acts of terror. I wish to underscore that terror can serve no purpose. Our hearts are with those so many innocent people, Indians and foreigners, who have been affected by these cowardly bombings" he said.
(Agencies)
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