US President George W Bush on Tuesday telephoned Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to express his sympathies over the loss of life in Monday's twin blasts in Mumbai.

Mumbai blasts: The complete coverage

He told the prime minister that in the fight against terror, India has a friend in the US.

Terming the blasts which claimed 52 lives as cold-blooded murder, Bush told Vajpayee that he appreciated the prime minister's personal courage in facing the threat of terrorism, official sources said.

Vajpayee thanked Bush for his sympathies and his public statement condemning the blasts.
 
The Mumbai blasts, the prime minister said, were a "grim reminder that the struggle against terrorism continues and we must work together to eliminate the threat."

The call followed a letter of condolence sent by the US leader to Vajpayee earlier in the day.