US, Britain lead condemnation of Mumbai attacks

The United States and Britain led global condemnation of the attacks in India's financial capital Mumbai, amid reports that Westerners were targeted in violence that killed nearly 80 people.

Washington said the attacks were "horrific", while US president-elect Barack Obama pledged to work with India to "root out and destroy terrorist networks".

Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday the "outrageous" attacks in its former colony would be met with a "vigorous response", and the European Union expressed its "horror and indignation" at the violence.

The state government said 78 people died in a series of blasts and shootings at two of Mumbai's top luxury hotels and the main Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station late Wednesday, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

A group calling itself the "Deccan Mujahedeen" claimed responsibility.

One British guest of the Taj Mahal hotel told local Indian television that armed men had herded people, including himself, to the hotel's upper floors.

"They said they wanted anyone with British and American passports," he said.

The United States and Britain said they had no reports of casualties among their citizens.

However, Japan said one of its nationals was killed and another was injured, while a staff member working for the European Parliament was reportedly hurt. Sydney said two Australians were also injured in the violence.

US State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood described the attacks as "horrific", while another official said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was closely monitoring the situation.

Obama's chief national security spokesman, Brooke Anderson, said the president-elect "strongly condemns" the attacks and his thoughts and prayers were with the victims and their families.

"These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism," he said.

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

Britain's Brown condemned the attacks as "outrageous", and said he had sent Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as 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 in a statement.

He added: "Urgent action is under way to offer every possible protection to British citizens in the region."

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the attacks "remind us, yet again, of the threat we face from violent extremists", and said Britain and India would "continue their joint efforts to counter the actions of terrorists".

The French presidency of the European Union said it had learnt of the attacks "with horror and indignation", saying: "It condemns them in the strongest possible terms."

It expressed solidarity with Dehli, saying 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. We stand by the Indian government in its fight against terrorism."

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon condemned the "savage terrorist attacks" and expressed solidarity 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, the heir to the throne, also voiced "tremendous sadness and condemnation of the attacks which seem to have left such a high number of victims".

The Brazilian government offered its condolences to the families of the victims and reaffirmed its "strong condemnation of all forms of terrorism".