Government, Obama join condemnation of Mumbai attacks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Wednesday condemned a series of deadly attacks in India's financial capital Mumbai, and President-elect Barack Obama said the attacks showed the need to continue strengthening anti-terrorism efforts worldwide.

The U.S. State Department said there were no known American casualties in the attacks, in which at least 80 people were killed and hundreds wounded, but the White House said it was still "assessing the hostage situation."

Indian television reported that Western hostages were being held in two five-star hotels where gunmen had carried out coordinated strikes.

With the crisis still unfolding in Mumbai, Obama -- who takes office on January 20 -- quickly weighed in.

"President-elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks in Mumbai," Brooke Anderson, his spokeswoman on national security, said in statement.

"These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism," she said. "The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks.

"We stand with the people of India."

The White House also denounced the attacks, which targeted sites frequented by Western tourists, and said it was seeking further information.

President George W. Bush, who left earlier to spend this week's Thanksgiving holiday at the presidential retreat at Camp David, was briefed on developments in Mumbai, the White House said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was closely monitoring the situation, a State Department official said.

"The Secretary will be reaching out to officials at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and at the consulate in Mumbai. She will be reaching out to Indian government officials as well. The situation on the ground is extremely fluid," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

State Department spokesman Robert Wood said the government "stands ready to support the Indian authorities as they deal with this horrific set of attacks." He said at this point, the State Department was not aware of any U.S. casualties.

The State Department has created a call center for Americans seeking any information on relatives or friends affected by the attacks. The number is 1-888-407-4747.

(Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and Sue Pleming in Washington and Ross Colvin in Chicago; editing by Todd Eastham)