Doha: French President Nicolas Sarkozy today offered India the help of his country's intelligence services as he again condemned the deadly attacks by Islamic militants in Mumbai.

The attacks by Islamic militants that left nearly 200 people dead were "particularly vile, cowardly, scandalous," he said on the sidelines of a UN summit in Qatar on aid to poorer countries.

Sarkozy said he had told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "French (intelligence) services would cooperate to the utmost to help this great democracy to face up to this insane, gratuitous, barbaric terrorism."

"There is no cause that can make that acceptable. None. Ever. It is barbarity in its most exact sense of the word," added Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

Commandos today killed the last remaining gunmen in Mumbai's Taj Hotel to end a devastating attack on India's financial capital that left 195 dead, including 22 foreigners.

The founder of a French lingerie line and her husband were among the dead.

Yesterday, Sarkozy offered condolences to the families and said France would offer "its unflinching and total support to the Indian democracy in its struggle against terrorism and fanaticism."
Source : PTI