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Senseless violence, says U.S.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

NEW YORK SEPT. 25. The United States has condemned the attack on the Swaminarayan temple in Gujarat, calling it a "horrific" and a "terrorist'' attack.

"The President condemns all terrorist attacks, and this was a particularly deadly attack, and the President condemns it'', the White House spokesman, Ari Fleischer, said.

The State Department condemned the attack as "senseless violence" and conveyed its condolences to the families of the victims. "We are shocked by the horrific attack. We condemn the senseless violence. We have seen no claim at this point of any responsibility. And, of course, we send our condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and the Government of India," the department spokesman, Richard Boucher, said at a regular briefing. The State Department officials were in "close touch with the Indian Government", he added.

The Secretary of State, Colin Powell, had spoken to the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, in the morning, but did not believe that the temple attack came up in the conversation. "I haven't been able to report it," the spokesman noted.

Mr. Boucher said the Assistant Secretary of State, Christina Rocca, now in India, was aware of the Gujarat incident. "I am sure she knows about it. She is on the scene," he remarked.

"She is out there for the South Asia Chiefs of Mission conference in New Delhi. She will also be in Pakistan and continue our senior level dialogue in both countries. She will then travel to Brussels for consultations with NATO and the EU," Mr. Boucher said.

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