A spokesman for Obama told rediff.com on background that "this evening, the president-elect called Secretary of State Rice to get an update and status report on the situation in Mumbai."

"President-elect Obama then called Indian Ambassador (Ronen) Sen and conveyed that his thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragic situation," the spokesman said."

Obama, the spokesman, added had told the ambassador that "there is just one president at a time. He also told him that he is monitoring the situation and has been in communication with Secretary Rice."

Earlier, Obama Transition Chief National Security spokesperson Brooke Anderson in a statement said 'President-elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of India.'

'These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grate and urgent threat of terrorism,' she said.

Anderson said '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,' the statement added.

Sources earlier told rediff.com that the Bush administration is closely monitoring the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and its aftermath.

Officials are keeping President George W Bush [Images] -- who is at the presidential retreat at Camp David for the Thanksgiving holidays -- apprised about the situation in Mumbai.

On the president's directive, officials have also kept Obama's national security team posted with all the latest information to make sure "they are in the loop."

Meanwhile, the State Department has provided Americans who believe that a relative or friend has been affected by the attacks in Mumbai a number to call: 1-888-407-4747.