Pope urges prayer for Mumbai victims

Pope Benedict XVI in a telegram to the Archbishop of Bombay conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by the Mumbai terror attack.

Calling for prayer for all victims of the attacks, Pope on Sunday told worshippers: "I would like to invite you to unite in prayer for the numerous victims of the brutal terrorist attacks on Bombay, in India."

"The causes and circumstances of these tragic events may be different, but these explosions of such cruel and insensitive violence must provoke the same horror and the same reproof," he said.

He asked God to "touch the heart of those who believe (violence) is the way to resolve local or international problems," and for "gentleness and love" to serve as examples for "building a society worthy of God and man."

He urgently appealed for "an end to all acts of terrorism," which he said, "gravely offend the human family and severely destabilize the peace and solidarity needed to build a civilization worthy of mankind's noble vocation to love God and neighbor."

At least 175 people have been killed and 400 injured in the terror attack on 10 sites in Mumbai.

Around 21 foreigners were among those killed in the mayhem which has been described as "India's 9/11".

Following the terror attacks, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram replaced Shivraj Patil as the new Home Minister, after he resigned. The finance ministry will now be under the direct charge of the Prime Minister.

While Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil resigned from the state cabinet, media reported, the Chief Minister would follow suit.

As tensions run high between India and Pakistan, official sources speculate a war between the neighbors.

To patch up the relationship, United States President George W Bush called up Prime Minister Singh the second time to offer all assistance in investigating the tragedy. Bush has instructed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to visit New Delhi, to offer his condolences and prevent a war on Pakistan, which would undermine the US war against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan.