Bush sends Condoleeza Rice to India

1 Dec 2008, 11:33 am   -   Source: AAP
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George Bush is sending Condoleezza Rice to India as a "further demonstration" of US solidarity in the wake of attacks in Mumbai, the White House has announced.

President George W Bush is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to India this week as a "further demonstration" of US solidarity with New Delhi in the wake of terror attacks in Mumbai, the White House announced on Sunday.

Rice will arrive in New Delhi Wednesday, on the heels of an already scheduled trip to attend a NATO meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said.

"Secretary Rice's visit to India is a further demonstration of the United States' commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of India as we all work together to hold these extremists accountable," Perino said in a statement.

President Bush told Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh in a telephone call on Sunday that "out of this tragedy can come an opportunity to hold these extremists accountable and demonstrate the world's shared commitment to combat terrorism," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

More than 170 people were killed and about 240 injured in a coordinated shooting rampage at 10 sites in the Indian capital in a rampage that began on Wednesday and ended Saturday.

Among the foreigners killed were six Americans. The dead also included Germans, Canadians, Israelis and nationals from Britain, Italy, Japan, China, Thailand, Australia and Singapore.

"The president told the prime minister that he stands in solidarity with him and the people of India and once again expressed our deepest condolences," Johndroe said.

"President Bush, noting that American citizens were also killed, said that we would all be working together, with the international community, to go after these extremists. President Bush told the prime minister he has directed the state and defence departments, along with other federal agencies, to devote the necessary resources and personnel to this situation."

India's top security official resigned on Sunday as the government struggled under growing accusations of security failures following the attacks. Singh called a rare meeting of leaders from the country's main political parties to discuss the situation.

"In the face of this national threat and in the aftermath of this national tragedy, all of us from different political parties, must rise above narrow political considerations and stand united," he said.

Bush, who also spoke with Singh from the Camp David presidential retreat on Thanksgiving, has kept an active profile on the situation.

Speaking at the White House on Saturday, Bush also pledged full US support for the investigation.

"The killers who struck this week are brutal and violent," Bush said after returning from Camp David.

"But terror will not have the final word. The people of India are resilient. The people of India are strong. They have built a vibrant, multi-ethnic democracy. They can withstand this trial."

He said his administration had kept president-elect Barack Obama informed since the siege began.

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