The terrorist attack in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai has drawn strong condemnation from around the world.

Denouncing the attack, China's foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang reiterated China's stance against terrorism.

"China firmly opposes any forms of terrorism. We express our condolences to the victims of this bombing and express our sincere sympathy to the injured people and their relatives."

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also condemned the violence.

"This is a horrific incident which has shocked and outraged people around the world. This is the loss of innocent lives, people just going about their daily business who have been caught up in a web of terrorism. And I believe that we've got to do everything we can now to help the Indian authorities as they deal with what is a terrorist outrage which has become all too common in their country."

In Islamabad, analyst Zahid Hussein said the attacks were alarming because it showed a widening of violence across the region.

Condemnation also came from the US President George. W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama, Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev and NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.

Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, as well as Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, amongst others, have also issued statements to condemn the attack.

A previously unknown Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for the carnage, the latest in a series of nationwide attacks over the past three years, but there is no way to verify that claim.

The Indian State Home Ministry said among the dead were at least four Australian and one Japanese.
Foreigners from about 12 countries including the United States, Britain, France and Canada are still held captive.

Suspected Muslim militants attacked at least 10 targets in India's financial capital, Mumbai on Wednesday night, causing hundreds of casualtieskilling. Indian TV puts latest figures of 125 dead and 327 injured.

The militants targeted spots popular with western tourists including two five star hotels, a popular restaurant, a train station, a Jewish centre and at least five other sites.