New Delhi: In a symbolic gesture marking the first anniversary of the December 13 terror strike on Parliament, United States Ambassador Robert Blackwill met Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi on December 13 and conveyed that the US was with India in the war against terrorism.

Blackwill, who visited Parliament House, paid floral tributes to the courageous men who died that day defending the Parliament.

Voicing his government's continuing condemnation of the attack on the fount of Indian Democracy, he conveyed once again deepest condolences to the family and friends of those who laid down their lives that day.

"What could be a more appropriate occasion than this to repeat with full voice and strong heart that India and the United States are together in the war against terrorism? That war will not be won until all terrorism against India and America is ended permanently," Blackwill told reporters.

He recalled the statement of the Bush administration a year ago that ''This brutal attack on the heart of Indian Democracy is an attack on all Democracies as well as an attempt to undermine the efforts of those seeking regional peace and stability."

Blackwill also quoted remarks made by Congressman Tom Lantos of California on the floor of the House of Representatives on this day in 2001 that ''The attack against India, as with the attacks against the US, was not aimed at bringing down buildings.

"They were cowardly attempts by criminal terrorist organisations to attack free and Democratic societies, to intimidate their people and their government. India has waged a long and often lonely battle against terrorism. I want to assure the people and government of India that you are not alone,'' Lantos had said.

Blackwill said US President George W Bush had conveyed these sentiments when he telephoned Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on the day of the terror attack in 2001.

Blackwill also witnessed Lok Sabha proceedings for a short while from the special gallery.

PTI