By Arun Kumar, United Nations, July 13 (IANS) The UN Security Council Wednesday condemned "in the strongest terms" the July 11 bomb attacks in Mumbai and other parts of India and urged all countries to cooperate with the Indian government in bringing those responsible to justice.

"The Security Council reaffirms that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," the 15-member body said through a consensus statement read out by its president for July, Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sablière of France.

The council statement underlined the need to bring the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of those "reprehensible" acts of terrorism to justice and urged all nations to cooperate actively with the Indian authorities in that regard.

It reaffirmed the need to combat by all means threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts and reminded nations that any measures they take to combat terrorism should comply with their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

"The Security Council condemns in the strongest terms the series of bomb attacks that occurred in different parts of India, including Mumbai, on July 11, 2006, causing numerous deaths and injuries, and expresses its deepest sympathy and condolences to the victims of these heinous acts of terrorism and their families, and to the people and the Government of India," it said.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in a separate statement, condemned "this horrific slaughter" in India and said such acts cannot possibly be excused by any grievance.

Annan believes that such acts serve only to reaffirm that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security and to increase the urgency of coordinated action by all countries to defeat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, whenever, wherever and for whatever purpose, it said.