Date:20/05/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/05/20/stories/2004052003021200.htm

International - India & World

`U.S. monitoring situation'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MAY 19. Staying with the line taken by the State Department in the aftermath of the vote count in India, the White House has said that it is "continuing to monitor" the situation and that the United States is looking forward to work once a new government is formed.

The White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, was asked how relations with India would be affected under the government of the Congress in India.

"...we are continuing to monitor that situation," Mr. McClellan replied going on to congratulate the people of India on completing the elections. "We do have strong relations with India and we look forward to working with the new government once that government is formed. At this point they're still working to form that government," the spokesman remarked.