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WASHINGTON: The United States Friday expressed its 'dismay' over the bomb blast occurring near President General Pervez Musharraf's motorcade in Rawalpindi, and hoped 'the Pakistani authorities would identify the perpetrators of this criminal act,' and 'soon bring them to justice.'

Reaction and Advisory

In an official reaction, a State Department Spokesman said that 'we are very pleased that the President and his travelling party escaped unhurt.' He offered condolences to the families of the victims.

In an advisory to the American citizens, 'who remain in Pakistan despite this warning,' Lou Fintor said, that they 'should take appropriate precautions to ensure their security and safety.'

'US Dismayed'

The Spokesman remarked that 'the United States is dismayed to hear that a bomb blast occurred near President Musharraf's motorcade in Rawalpindi.'

'We are very pleased that the President and his travelling party escaped unhurt, and we extend our condolences to the families of the two policemen and other victims of this bomb blast', he said by adding, 'we hope the Pakistani authorities would identify the perpetrators of this criminal act and soon bring them to justice'.

He said that 'U.S. citizens who remain in Pakistan despite this warning, should take appropriate precautions to ensure their security and safety'.

McClellan Reax

'Recent assassination attempts on Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf show there must be no let up in global efforts to rid the world of terrorism, a White House spokesman said Friday.

'It's a reminder that the war on terrorism continues,' President George W. Bush's press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters in a briefing aboard Air Force One.

Lauds Musharraf

McClellan staed that 'President Musharraf has been a strong partner in the global war on terrorism'. 'He said the United States will continue to work with him', remarked.

He said that President Bush had not spoken to President Musharraf as of midday Friday, but he added that Washington would continue to support the Pakistani leader.

'President Musharraf has been a strong partner in our global war on terrorism. We will continue to work with him on our global efforts,' said McClellan, who was traveling with Bush on a weeklong holiday trip to Texas.