India can deal with Mumbai terror strikes: Pranab

 


     Mumbai, Nov 27 (IANS) India asserted Thursday it had the wherewithal to deal with the coordinated terror strikes in this commercial capital, even as it expressed appreciation for the offers of help that have come in from world capitals.

     "We are monitoring and tackling the situation ourselves and will bring the culprits to book in no time. However, it is taking time because we want to avoid civilian casualties," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told a TV news channel by phone from New Delhi.

     The minister said that during the day he had received telephone calls from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, as also the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, Oman and Israel, as well as the secretary general of the Arab League expressing solidarity with India and offering support and assistance.

     "We appreciate their gesture," Mukherjee said.

     Referring to his discussions Wednesday with his visiting Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Mukherjee said he had received some proposals on countering terrorism and these would be given "due consideration".

     Asked about reports that naval vessels were chasing two ships that are suspected to have landed the terrorists in Mumbai, Mukherjee said: "Detailed information was being collected."

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