Rice coming to New Delhi

US President George W Bush has sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to New Delhi to express his support to the Indian leadership in the wake of country's worst-ever terrorist strike in Mumbai last week, which left nearly 200 people dead and 400 injured.

Rice, who arrives here tonight would meet external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee.

A US government spokesman said in Washington that Rice and Bush wanted an opportunity "to express the condolences of the American government directly to the Indian government and the Indian people."

"Secretary Rice's visit to India is a further demonstration of the United States' commitment to stand in solidarity with the people of India as we all work together to hold these extremists accountable," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement.

Rice's visit comes hours after Bush had assured that the U.S. government would put its full weight behind the investigation into the attacks in Mumbai.

The US government has already send a team of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to Mumabi to asssit the Indian authorities investigating the Mumbai terrorist strike.