Message from Mr Ratan N Tata, Chairman Tata Sons and Chairman, Indian Hotels Company Ltd.

"The terrible wanton attacks last night on innocent people and the destruction of prominent landmarks in India deserve to be universally condemned. My sympathies and condolences go out to all those who have suffered, been injured, and those who have lost their loved ones in this terrible act of hatred and destruction.

We cannot replace the lives that have been lost and we will never forget the terrifying events of last night, but we must stand together, shoulder to shoulder as citizens of India, and rebuild what has been destroyed. We must show that we cannot be disabled or destroyed, but that such heinous act will only make us stronger. It is important that we do not allow divisive forces to weaken us. We need to overcome these forces as one strong unified nation."UNWTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli has condemned the series of deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India's commercial capital and largest city.

"Please accept my condolences for the dastardly attacks in Mumbai and for the tragic loss of life that has occurred", Mr. Frangialli said in a letter to India's Tourism Minister Ambika Soni Soni, who chairs UNWTO's Executive Council.

"I want to put at your disposal all UNWTO resources in any way that may be of assistance to you."

Tourism is among the wider economic interests of India, which is among the world's emerging tourism motors and the dominant destination in South Asia on the back of a remarkable economic boom.

A state official says the siege has ended at Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel and the last three gunmen there have been killed.

At least 119 people were killed and 288 injured when suspected Islamic militants attacked 10 sites in India's financial capital.

Terrorists attacked the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in downtown Mumbai, India on the evening of the 26th.

At the same time, the Oberoi Hotel and at least one train station were attacked. Sources tell us that at least 80 people have been killed.

Terrorists reportedly asked for British and American guests at the Oberoi and are believed to be holding at least 40 hostages inside the hotel.

A fire raged inside the Taj, with the dome of the luxury hotel billowing smoke. Terrorists had reportedly been throwing grenades from the roof earlier.

A hostage standoff inside the hotel ended after two terrorists were shot and killed.

Eyewitness Phillip Badje was in one of the hotels attacked by terrorists in the city of Mumbai, India:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDt8e3YuWOk&feature=channel

The New York Times reported: Even by the standards of terrorism in India, which has suffered a rising number of attacks this year, the assaults were particularly brazen in scale and execution. The attackers used boats to reach the urban peninsula where they hit, and their targets were sites popular with tourists.

The Mumbai police said Thursday that the attacks killed at least 101 people and wounded at least 250. Guests who had escaped the hotels told television stations that the attackers were taking hostages, singling out Americans and Britons.

A previously unknown group claimed responsibility, though that claim could not be confirmed. It remained unclear whether there was any link to outside terrorist groups.

(Photo: Prashanth Vishwanathan for The New York Times - www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/world/asia/27mumbai.html?_r=1 )