European Parliament members in Mumbai safe: EU official
IANS
Europe
Thu, 27 Nov 2008:
Brussels, Nov 27 (IANS) A delegation from the European Parliament (EP), including seven deputies who were staying in one of the hotels that was attacked in Mumbai, are safe and will be returning home soon, an official said Thursday.
'We are very much relieved that the French Consulate is now working in cse cooperation with the European Parliament to ensure a quick return of the delegation of the European Parliament that was visiting Mumbai and was staying in one of the hotels that was attacked,' said EP President Hans-Gert Poettering here Thursday, EuAsiaNews reported.
'I have been personally in touch with them and assured myself that they and the parliament staff are as well as can be expected, and would like to thank all diplomats who helped our delegation in this extremely critical situation,' he said.
The MEPs were in Mumbai as a delegation of the EP International Trade Committee. The delegation was led by Ignasi Guardans Cambo of Spain, and included Erika Mann of Germany, Syed Kamall of Britain, Béla Glattfelder of Hungary, Daniel Caspary of Germany, Jan Tadeusz Masiel of Poland and Sajjad Karim of Britain.
Poettering strongly and vehemently condemned 'these tragic multiple terrorist attacks' and said this is a crime that cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
'Fighting terrorism must remain a key political priority for the international community. It is a global problem and a challenge for everyone. We must use all the resources that the rule of law places at our disposal to defeat terrorism together once and for all,' said the EP President.
'On behalf of the European Parliament, I would like to convey a message of solidarity to the Indian people and their authorities. We stand with the families of the victims in this time of mourning,' he added.
The terror strike in Mumbai, which began Wednesday night, has claimed at least 110 lives and left more than 310 people injured.