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Bush freezes assets of Laskhar-e-Tayiba

United States President George W Bush, in a speech marking 100 days after the September 11 terrorist attacks, on Thursday froze the assets of terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Tayiba and a Pakistan-based 'charity' UTN, which he said is funding terrorism.

Strongly condemning the December 13 attack on the Indian Parliament, Bush said, "It was only the most recent terrorist attack on the institutions of Indian democracy."

"Since September 11, we have witnessed a series of terrorist attacks made at the United States and our friends around the world," Bush said.

The US President said, "The legislature of the world's largest democracy was attacked. A nation founded on the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of worship was ruthlessly attacked. The terrorists killed eight innocent people."

He also pointed out that many of India's elected representatives have been kidnapped and killed by terrorists.

"Last week's attack on the Indian Parliament was only the most recent terrorist attack on the institutions of Indian democracy. There was the earlier attack on the state (Jammu and Kashmir) legislative assembly in Srinagar on October 1 in which many people were killed," Bush said.

He said the attacks on India's Parliament buildings remind us that whatever grievances or causes the terrorists may cite, their real target is democracy and freedom.

"The Lashkar-e-Tayiba is an extremist group based in Kashmir. LeT is a stateless sponsor of terrorism and it hopes to destroy relations between Pakistan and India and undermine President (Pervez) Musharraf. To achieve its purpose, LeT has committed acts of terrorism inside both India and Pakistan. It is a terrorist organisation that presents a global threat and I look forward to working with New Delhi and Islamabad in a common effort to shut it down and to bring the killers to justice," Bush said.

Complete Coverage: The Attack on Parliament

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