M A I N   N E W S

Outrageous, say USA, UK, Pakistan

New Delhi, December 13
The USA today condemned the terror strike in Parliament House. It said: “We condemn this outrageous act of terrorism and express our deepest sympathy with the families of the victims of the attack,” a US Embassy spokesman said.

Britain condemned the attack, saying “terrorism, wherever it occurs, is unacceptable”.

A British High Commission release quoted British Foreign Minister Jack Straw as saying that “there can be no justification for what has happened”.

“I deplore the loss of life. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” he said. Mr Straw said: “I unreservedly condemn those responsible for this attack on the heart of Indian democracy.”

Pakistan expressed “shock” over the attack and condemned it.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said the Pakistan Government was “shocked” to hear the news of the attack on Parliament, which resulted in casualties. PTI

Pervez flays attack by ‘intruders’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 13
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf made a double-edged reaction on today’s terrorist attack on Parliament House here. General Musharraf expressed “shock” at the incident, which he said was committed by “armed intruders”.

In a message sent to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, General Musharraf said: “I was shocked to learn about the attack earlier today by armed intruders on the Indian Parliament building in New Delhi. I have been saddened by the loss of life and injuries suffered by Indian security personnel.”

It is notable that General Musharraf neither described the incident as an act of terrorism nor did he dub the perpetrators of the act as “terrorists”.

The United States’ State Department was yet to react to the incident till late this evening, though the US Ambassador Robert D. Blackwill sent a message to Union Home Minister L.K. Advani condemning the act of terrorism. A US Embassy spokesman here said; “We condemn this outrageous act of terrorism and express our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims of the attack.”

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw made several attempts to contact Mr Advani and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh. A spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said Mr Jaswant Singh could not be available because of his busy schedule. However, Mr Straw issued a statement in London wherein he said, “there can be no justification for what has happened. Terrorism, wherever it occurs, is unacceptable. I unreservedly condemn those responsible for this attack on the heart of Indian democracy.”