Mumbai attack investigation begins

Last Updated: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:49:00 +1100

India's Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, has resigned over the attacks in Mumbai.

He's said to have written to the Prime Minister telling him he felt obliged to take "moral responsibility" for violence in which more than 195 people died.

His resignation coincides with claims the security forces were slow to respond to the co-ordinated attacks on India's financial capital.

Police and intelligence chiefs in India have started their investigation into the Mumbai attacks.

South Asia correspondent Sally Sara reports from Mumbai that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is holding emergency talks with military and intelligence chiefs.

At least 195 people died in the attacks, including 22 foreigners, 20 police and soldiers and nine of the attackers.

An Indian media report says a tenth militant caught alive has told interrogators the gunmen wanted to be remembered for an Indian version of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

US President George W. Bush has pledged full US support to India as it investigates the deadly attacks.

"The killers who struck this week are brutal and violent, but terror will not have the final word. People of India are resilient. People of India are strong. 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," Mr Bush said.

Tensions between India and Pakistan are rising after the Indian government said most, if not all, of the 10 gunmen were from Pakistan.

Pakistan has denied any involvement in the attack.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari says his government will take action against any group involved in the Mumbai attacks.

Mr Zardari is calling on India to pass on any evidence of Pakistani involvement.

"If any evidence points to any group in my part of the country I should take the swiftest of action in light of the evidence and in front of the world," Mr Zardari said.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has described the killings as ghastly and India's version of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

"What we have said is if they have information, if they have evidence they should share it with us. As far as the government of Pakistan is concerned, terrorism is terrorism," he said.

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