Bush Sends Condoleezza Rice to India in ‘Solidarity’ (Update1)

By Aaron Sheldrick and Nadine Elsibai

Dec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush is sending Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to India as a mark of “solidarity” after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, the White House said.

Rice is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Dec. 3 after attending a NATO meeting in Europe, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said in a statement yesterday.

The visit is a “further demonstration of the United States’ commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of India as we all work together to hold these extremists accountable,” Perino said.

The attacks in Mumbai, which began on Nov. 26 at two luxury hotels, a railway terminal and a building housing a Jewish center, ended Nov. 29, leaving 195 people dead, including six U.S. citizens.

Bush called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday, assuring him that the U.S. “stands in solidarity” with his country, according to Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman with the National Security Council.

Bush told Singh that he has instructed the State and Defense departments “to devote the necessary resources and personnel to this situation,” Johndroe said in an e-mailed statement.

The president also told Singh “that he believes out of this tragedy can come an opportunity to hold these extremists accountable and demonstrate the world’s shared commitment to combat terrorism,” Johndroe said.

To contact the reporters on this story: Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo at asheldrick@bloomberg.net ; Nadine Elsibai in Washington at nelsibai@bloomberg.net .

Last Updated: November 30, 2008 20:41 EST

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