Agencies 

Washington, Jul 12: Condemning the blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar as "monstrous" and "despicable", US President Geroge W Bush and other world leaders have said such acts increase the urgency of coordinated action by all countries to defeat terrorism in all its forms and manisfestations.

"The United States stands with the people and government of India and condemns in the strongerst terms these atrocities, which were committed against innocent people as they went about their daily lives," Bush said.

"Such acts only strenghthen the resolve of the international community to stand united against terrorism and to declare unequivocally that there is no justification of the vicious murder of innocent people," he said in a statement issued from the midwestern state of Wisconsin.

At least 190 people were killed and over 600 injured in serial train blasts in Mumbai while eight died in grenade attacks in Srinagar yesterday.

U N Secretary General Kofi Annan has said he was "appalled by the brutal and callous bombings." He said the bombings in Mumbai and the grenade attacks in Srinagar "increase the urgency of coordinated action by all countries to defeat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, whenever, wherever and for whatever purpose".

Asserting that "this unscrupulous and monstrous crime can never be justified," Russian President Vladimir Putin said "the terrorists who are guilty of this cruel act must be severely punished." European Union's Javier Solana said "I condemn in the strongest possible terms these despicable acts of terrorism, which have caused death and injuries to scores of innocent people."

US condemns Mumbai blasts

PTI 
  
Washington: The United States condemned today's multiple blasts in Mumbai, calling them "senseless acts of violence" aimed at killing innocent people.

"These are senseless acts of violence designed to strike at those innocent people who are just going about their daily lives, people who are commuting home on a train. And so it was a terrible tragedy for the people of India and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this difficult time," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said condemning the blasts in strongest possible terms. "Today there were multiple terrorist attacks in India, in Srinagar and in Mumbai. We condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms.

"Many have lost their lives. And many more were injured. So our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones or friends or relatives in these attacks and we wish a speedy recovery to all of those who were injured," McCormack remarked at the start of his daily briefing. PTI

Blair condemns Mumbai terror blasts

CNN-IBN

New Delhi: Tony Blair has condemned the "brutal and shameful" terrorist attacks in Mumbai in which 160 people were killed and another 300 injured.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said, "There can never be any justifications for terrorism. We stand united with India, as the world's largest democracy, through our shared values and our shared determination to defeat terrorism in all its forms."

"We stand united with India as the world's largest democracy, through our shared values and our shared determination to defeat terrorism in all its forms," he added.

As the explosion occurred, a cloud of smoke enveloped the area and reduced to zero visibility for a few seconds. However, Chouhan could see faintly bodies flung outside the bogie in which the explosion occurred.

All blasts were high-intensity explosions and initial reports said wired timing devices were used in all the cases.

All telephone lines including mobiles were jammed immediately after the news of the blasts was received. Volunteers from the public instantly began relief and rescue operations. The people from the nearby areas rushed to the site and helped move the injured to the nearby hospitals.

Limbs were strewn and blood was splattered all over the compartments where the blasts took place while all the coaches suffered excessive damage, most of them being ripped off.

Mumbai blasts an attack on democratic way of life: Aus PM

PTI

Melbourne: Condemning the serial blasts in Mumbai trains which left 190 people dead as "an attack on the democratic way of life," Australian Prime Minister John Howard today said it was a reminder that no country was immune from the possibility of terror strikes.
"This terrorist attack is an attack on the democratic way of life," Howard said.

"Because it has occurred in India, it is a reminder that no country is immune from the possibility of terrorist attacks," the prime minister told an audience at the Blacktown Workers Club in Sydney.

The Australian premier said he sent "sympathies and support, compassion and expression of concern to the Indian people and to the Indian government".

Howard, who visited Mumbai in March, said the attack was a reminder that Australians could not afford to be complacent about the threat of terrorism.

"We can't afford to assume that it will never happen in our country," he said.

Reacting to the incident, opposition party leader Kim Beazley said the attacks were a warning to Australia to tighten security on its railway network.

Beazley, who expressed "deepest sympathy" to the Indian people and government, urged Howard to immediately introduce security measures promised after last year's London blasts.

"We see the horrible events in London a year ago. We see these horrible events in Mumbai now. We note that apparently a similar attack on the transport system in New York has been avoided by timely arrests.

"We must sustain a practical effort to protect our people in this environment and 12 months' delay is not good enough in getting these sorts of measures in place," he said. PTI

Musharraf, Aziz condemn Mumbai train blasts

PTI

Islamabad: Terming the bomb blasts in Mumbai's trains that killed over 100 people as a "despicable act of terrorism", Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have condemned the attacks.

"Pakistan strongly condemns the series of bomb blasts on commuter trains in Mumbai, India. This despicable act of terrorism has resulted in the loss of a large number of precious lives," said a statement issued by the Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson tonight.

"The President and Prime Minister of Pakistan have also strongly condemned this terrorist attack and have expressed condolences over the loss of innocent lives. Terrorism is a bane of our times and it must be condemned, rejected and countered effectively and comprehensively," the statement said.

The statement, however, made no mention of a string of grenade attacks at Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir that killed eight people.


S Africa "outraged" at Mumbai blasts

PTI

Johannesburg: South Africa on Wednesday night expressed "outrage" at the synchronised multiple blasts that tore through commuter trains in Mumbai.

In a statement broadcast on the national SABC TV, President Thabo Mbeki said he was confident that Indian authorities would track down the culprits and bring them to justice.

Condemning the blasts, he said the world must unite against international terrorism.