145;Deeply saddened146;, Bush pledges full support

US president George W Bush, in a statement made in the South Lawn of the White House, said that he was 8220;deeply saddened8221;...

US president George W Bush, in a statement made in the South Lawn of the White House, said that he was 8220;deeply saddened8221; by the killings of innocent people in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and assured India of continued cooperation in the fight against extremists. First Lady Laura Bush was also, he added, 8220;deeply saddened8221; by the deaths of Americans in the 8220;horrific attack8221;.

8220;We also mourn the great loss of life suffered by so many people from several other countries, and we have the wounded in our thoughts and prayers,8221; he said.

Bush said his administration had been working with the Indian Government and the international community to battle the scourge. 8220;We will continue to cooperate against these extremists who offer nothing but violence and hopelessness,8221; he added.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to New Delhi David C Mulford on Saturday said that his country was ready to offer all assistance to India, including sending team of security officials, in the probe into the Mumbai attacks in which six Americans were among those killed.

8220;President Bush has directed us to offer cooperation to Indian authorities in any way that we can. We would be doing that,8221; Mulford told reporters after a meeting with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon in New Delhi.

Even more forthcoming was Mike Brooks, formerly of the FBI and now an analyst. 8220;The FBI is sending a team to Mumbai as we speak. It8217;s a team out of the Los Angeles office. This is not a full team, like we would normally see it8217;s going to be an investigative team,8221; he said.

8220;They are also sending a bomb tech to act as an adviser, as well as an adviser with the evidence response team,8221; added Brooks.

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Incidentally, maintaining that there is only 8220;one President at a time,8221; President-elect Obama had earlier said, 8220;We fully support the Bush Administration8217;s efforts to protect American citizens and assist the Government of India.8221; He added, 8220;I will continue to closely monitor the situation on the ground in Mumbai and am grateful for the cooperation of the Bush administration in keeping me and my staff updated,8221; said Obama who is also in touch with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as well as with Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen.