Obama slams India attacks, vows to root out terror groups

CHICAGO: President-elect Barack Obama on Wednesday condemned the Mumbai attacks and said the United States must work to strengthen ties with India and other nations to "root out and destroy terrorist networks."

"These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism," Obama's chief national security spokesperson, Brooke Anderson, 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."

The statement added: "President-Elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of India."

Obama spoke by telephone with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for an update on the situation, an official in Obama's transition office said on condition of anonymity.

He then spoke to the US ambassador to India Ranendra Sen, "and conveyed that his thoughts and prayers" are with the victims, the official said.