France condemns Jaipur blasts, pledges to fight terror

New Delhi, May 14: France has expressed indignation over the serial blasts in Jaipur last evening, ''which have struck at the hearts of our Indian friends'', and said it was ready to intensify cooperation with India in the fight against terrorism.

''I would like to express my indignation and repulsion at the wave of blasts which has plunged the city of Jaipur in grief,'' French Minister for External and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner said in a statement. ''These blasts have struck at the hearts of our Indian friends, at the heart of their daily life,'' he said. Expressing solidarity with the Indian Government, he said: ''Today, we stand beside India and the Indian people in the face of this unacceptable horror.

''More than ever before, France is prepared to intensify its cooperation with India in the fight against terrorism,'' he said and conveyed the deepest condolences of France to the victims' families, the Indian authorities and the people, besides sympathising with those injured in the blasts.

UNI