Nepal denounces terrorist attacks in India's Mumbai

Nepal condemned the terrorist attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai Thursday that killed at least 101 people and left over 200 hundred injured in one of the worst coordinated attacks on India's commercial centre in recent memory.

"We strongly condemn this cowardly attack and the killing of the innocent peoples," President Dr Ram Baran Yadav said in a message to his Indian counterpart Prativa Patil Thursday. He also extended his deepest condolence to the families of those who were indiscriminately in this attack.

Similarly, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said in another message issued today, "These attacks, directed against innocent people and to terrorise the industrial and commercial centre of India, deserve unequivocal condemnation from all over the world."

In the message issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), PM Dahal further said that the government and people of Nepal "unreservedly deplore in strongest terms these cowardly terrorist attacks" and expresses "full solidarity with the government and people of India at this hour of distress".

According to reports, teams of gunmen suspected to be Muslim militants stormed luxury hotels, a popular restaurant, a crowded train station and a Jewish centre in India's commercial heart, killing at least 101 people and holding several Westerners hostage. Dozens of people were still trapped or held captive Thursday.

MoFA officials said they were not aware of any Nepalese casualties as of now. Mumbai has frequently been targeted in terrorist attacks blamed on Islamic extremists, including a series of bombings in July 2006 that killed 187 people. nepalnews.com ag Nov 27 08