Obama speaks with Indian PM, 'closely following' Mumbai situation Agence France-Presse

Published: Saturday November 29, 2008





Print This Email This WASHINGTON (AFP)  US president-elect Barack Obama has conveyed his condolences to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the wave of attacks on Mumbai and is closely following the situation, an aide said on Saturday.



Obama spoke by telephone to Singh at about 10:30 eastern standard time (0330 GMT) late Friday "to express condolences for those killed in the terrorists attacks in Mumbai and to let him know that his thoughts and prayers are with the people of India and all who were affected by the attack," the aide in Obama's transition office said, speaking on condition of anonymity.



Repeating a phrase he has used often since his electoral victory on November 4, Obama told the prime minister that there is one US president at a time "but that he would be monitoring the situation closely."



Obama, who has been receiving regular updates on the Mumbai assault from officials in President George W. Bush's administration, will take over the presidency on January 20.



Commandos Saturday killed the last remaining gunmen in Mumbai's Taj hotel to end the devastating attack by Islamic militants on India's financial capital that left 195 dead, including 26 foreigners.



Shortly after dawn on the third day of the siege, heavy gunfire and loud explosions signalled the final commando offensive against the militants, who had held hundreds of security personnel at bay for 60 hours.



