India says sorry for not protecting foreigners in Mumbai

NEW DELHI: India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee 'expressed regret' to 13 countries whose citizens were amongst those who were killed in the Mumbai terror attack.

"We could not protect them. I sincerely apologise," Mukherjee said in a statement to the Lok Sabha, with reference to the 26 foreigners who were killed in the terror spree.  

"Most of them realised it is not our fault. Terrorism has a dimension which is not confined to territorial boundary of any state. It has become a cross-border and international phenomenon," Mukherjee said.

Alluding to a global outpouring of support and sympathy for India in the wake of Mumbai attacks, Mukherjee said more than 16 heads of state had called the Prime Minister to express their concern and that a large number of foreign  ministers called him to express solidarity with India.

"Most of them not only expressed solidarity with us, but also expressed confidence that India will be able to overcome it," he said.

Of the 179 killed in Mumbai, 26 were foreigners, including those from the United States, Italy, Israel, Britain, Japan and Germany.