US, UK condemn UP terror attacks

New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) The United States and Britain today strongly condemned the serial bomb blasts in Uttar Pradesh, saying the attacks were targeted against institutions of law and justice and called for strengthening the fight against terrorism.

British High Commissioner to India, Richard Stagg, descrined it a ''worrying development'' that the judiciary had been targeted.

''We condemn all forms of terrorism. It is a particularly worrying development that the judiciary and the legal system have been attacked. Our thoughts are with the affected families,'' the High Commissioner said in a statement.

Earlier the US said such acts strengthened people's resolve, including ''India's friends in the international community,'' to defeat terrorism.

A statement issued by the US embassy here said the terror attacks in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi, were apparently directed against institutions of law and justice.

''Such acts strengthen the resolve of all well intentioned people, including India's friends in the international community, to defeat terrorism and build peace based on rule of law,'' the statement said.

It also extended sympathies to the victims of these ''criminal acts'' and their families.

At least 14 people were killed and scores wounded in serial bomb explosions in Lucknow, Varanasi and Faizabad today.

UNI