Bush espouses support for India

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- President George Bush said Saturday the United States and other nations around the world will stand by India against terrorist forces.

"We pledge the full support of the United States as India investigates these attacks, brings the guilty to justice and (sustains) its democratic way of life," Bush said in remarks prepared for delivery on the White House's south lawn.

"The leaders of India can know that nations around the world support them in the face of this assault on human dignity. And as the people of the world's largest democracy recover from these attacks, they can count on the world's oldest democracy to stand by their side."

Bush said the U.S. government is monitoring the situation in India closely and he has been in telephone contact with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He also said he held a video conference with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. ambassador to India, the U.S. consul general in Mumbai and other national security officials.

"We reviewed the latest developments, and we are working to ensure that American citizens in India are safe," Bush said. "Throughout the process, we have kept President-Elect (Barack) Obama informed."

The president said while those who attacked Mumbai this week, killing scores of people and wounding hundreds more were "brutal and violent," "terror will not have the final word."

"People of India are resilient. People of India are strong," Bush said. "They have built a vibrant, multi-ethnic democracy that can withstand this trial."