Obama interrupts Thanksgiving for Mumbai briefings

PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama was given a taste of what lies ahead as he spent a large part of the Thanksgiving holiday being briefed on the Mumbai attacks.

Mr Obama, who takes over as commander-in-chief on 20 January, was kept informed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

He also received intelligence briefings from the National Counter Terrorism Unit and State Department Operation Centre.

Mr Obama's aides said he was monitoring the situation closely and in a statement condemned the attacks that have claimed the lives of more than 125 people.

His briefing from Ms Rice was the second time they had spoken about the terror attacks.

They had a telephone conversation on the night the terrorists launched their assault on Mumbai. A statement issued by Mr Obama's transition team said: "These co-ordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism.

"The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks.

"We stand with the people of India, whose democracy will prove far more resilient than the hateful ideology that led to these attacks."

Even though Mr Obama cannot make a policy decision, his transition team set up an office to interact with the State Department Operation Centre and with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Asenior aide said the Bush administration was co-operating fully and passing on information.

With his briefings over, Mr Obama spent the Thanksgiving holiday, the biggest in the American calendar, with 60 family and friends in Chicago.

The night before he had handed out food to the needy at a local church with his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters.

President Bush spent his last holiday at Camp David with his family. Before his turkey meal he telephoned 11 soldiers serving overseas to thank them for their service. He also gave thanks to volunteers, teachers and pastors. "Most of all," he said, "I thank the American people for the tremendous privilege of serving as the president."