French intelligence can help India: Sarkozy

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday offered India the help of his country8217;s intelligence services, as he again condemned the deadly attacks by Islamic militants in Mumbai. The attacks, which left nearly 200 people dead, were 8220;particularly vile, cowardly, scandalous,8221; he said on the sidelines of a UN summit in Qatar. The Madagascar- born owner of a French lingerie line and her husband were among the dead.

Sarkozy informed he had told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, 8220;French intelligence services would cooperate to the utmost to help this great democracy to face up to this insane, gratuitous, barbaric terrorism.8221;

8220;There is no cause that can make that acceptable. None. Ever. It is barbarity in its most exact sense of the word,8221; added Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

On Friday, Sarkozy offered condolences to the families and said France would offer 8220;its unflinching and total support to the Indian democracy in its struggle against terrorism and fanaticism.8221;