WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Bush, Obama condemn Mumbai attacks, US offers help
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-27 11:19

WASHINGTON -- The White House and President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday condemned the deadly attacks in Mumbai, India, as the US government convened defense and intelligence officials and offered help to Indian authorities.

Foreign guests react after being rescued from the Taj Hotel in Mumbai November 27, 2008. Gunmen killed at least 80 people in a series of attacks in India's commercial hub Mumbai and troops began moving into two luxury hotels on Thursday where foreign hostages were being held, local television said. [Agencies]

"President Bush offers his condolences to the Indian  people and the families of the innocent civilians killed and injured in the attacks in Mumbai," the White House said in a statement issued after the US leader left for the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland for the Thanksgiving holiday.

It said the White House National Security Council had convened officials from counterterrorism and intelligence agencies as well as the State Department and Pentagon to discuss the Mumbai attacks.

"The US government continues to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of our citizens, and stands ready to assist and support the Indian government," the White House said.

The State Department said there were no known American casualties in the attacks, in which at least 86 people were killed and 250 wounded, but the White House said it was still "assessing the hostage situation."

Indian television reported that Western hostages were being held in two five-star hotels where gunmen had carried out coordinated strikes.

US President-elect Barack Obama, who takes office on January 20, also condemned the attacks.

"These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism," Brooke Anderson, Obama's spokeswoman on national security, said in a statement.

"The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks.

An aide to Obama said the president-elect, who was at home in Chicago, had spoken to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to get a briefing on the situation and called India's ambassador to the United States to express his condolences.

Rice was closely monitoring the situation, a State Department official said.

"The Secretary will be reaching out to officials at the US Embassy in New Delhi and at the consulate in Mumbai. She will be reaching out to Indian government officials as well. The situation on the ground is extremely fluid," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.