Washington: Equating Hamas militants with the terrorists who struck Mumbai, the White House today said they were despicable human beings taking recourse to violence in order to achieve political ends.

In a media briefing, dominated by the issue of Israel's incursion into the Gaza Strip, the White House spokesperson Dana Perino was asked if there were differences "between Hamas terrorists and the terrorists, who are attacking out from Pakistan against India".

"Obviously, they're two different groups," White House spokesperson, Dana Perino, told reporters when asked if there was any difference between the two.

"But I think at their base level they are despicable, evil human beings who use violence and murder in order to achieve political objectives," Perino said.

"So, in that regard, they are the same," she said.

Source : PTI