Bush, Blair lead global condemnation

United States President George W Bush expressed his solidarity with India in the wake of the serial Mumbai blasts.

'On behalf of the American people, [First Lady] Laura [Bush] and I send our deepest condolences to the friends and families of the victims of today's brutal attacks on commuter rail passengers in Mumbai,' Bush said in a statement.

'The United States stands with the people and the Government of India and condemns in the strongest terms these atrocities, which were committed against innocent people as they went about their daily lives.

'Such acts only strengthen the resolve of the international community to stand united against terrorism and to declare unequivocally that there is no justification for the vicious murder of innocent people.'

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also condemned the bomb blasts in Mumbai and Kashmir as 'brutal and shameful attacks' and asserted there could be no justification for terrorism.

In a statement, Blair said Britain stood with India and shared its determination to defeat terrorism in all its forms.

South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki also expressed his country's solidarity with India, in a message sent to President APJ Abul Kalam.

'We express our confidence that the Indian authorities will ensure that those responsible will face the consequences of their own actions,' President Mbeki said in his official statement.

'During this difficult moment, we join the people of India in their hour of bereavement while reaching out to those who lost their loved ones and wishing those wounded a speedy recovery.'

The European Union said it was important that those responsible for these barbarous acts of terrorism should be brought to justice and there can never be any justification for such heinous attacks on innocent civilians.

Canadian Foreign minister Peter MacKay said in a statement that the Mumbai blasts are 'yet another awful reminder of the determination of terrorists who use murder as an instrument to advance their political ends'.

'Canada stands with India, a proud democracy, in condemning these acts of terror,' he said.