India seeks tougher anti-terror laws after Mumbai attacks

Mumbai: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is seeking support for a crime-fighting agency modelled on the FBI and tougher anti-terror laws after deadly attacks in Mumbai.

Singh called for a meeting on Sunday in New Delhi with political parties in Parliament to discuss the measure.

In Washington on Saturday, President George W. Bush pledged US help to investigate the militant assault on the Taj Mahal and Trident-Oberoi hotels.

P.R.S. Oberoi, chairman of the Oberoi Group that owns one of the hotels, urged the government to let businesses defend themselves.

"Their intention was to kill as many people as possible and do as much damage as possible," Oberoi said of the terrorists.

Singh on Saturday met with chief of defence services and intelligence agencies after the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party blamed his government for doing too little.