US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned as "despicable" bomb attacks in Mumbai Wednesday that left at least 20 people dead, vowing not to delay her trip next week to India. "We condemn these despicable acts of violence designed to provoke fear and division. Those who perpetrated them must know they cannot succeed," Clinton said in a statement.
"I will be travelling to India next week as planned. I believe it is more important than ever that we stand with India, deepen our partnership, and reaffirm our commitment to the shared struggle against terrorism." Bombs exploded earlier Wednesday in busy districts in the south of Mumbai, the same area targeted two and half years ago by militant gunmen who caused mayhem and bloodshed during a 60-hour siege that left 166 people dead.
No group claimed responsibility for the latest attacks, though suspicions initially fell on two Islamist groups that have targeted India in the past: the home-grown Indian Mujahideen and the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "The Indian people have suffered from acts of terrorism before, and we have seen them respond with courage and resilience," Clinton said.
"Our hearts are with the victims and their families, and we have reached out to the Indian government to express our condolence and offer support." Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia, a historic ally of India, also denounced the attack. "We condemn the people who organised this act and we extend our condolences to India," Lavrov told a joint news conference with Clinton in Washington.
Clinton will next week become the most senior US official to visit India since a state visit by US President Barack Obama last November. She will travel to New Delhi to attend the second India-US Strategic Dialogue on July 19 after presiding over the first such meeting between the world's two largest democracies last year in Washington.
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