Chicago, Dec 1 (IANS) US-president elect Barack Obama said Monday he would closely monitor the investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks that killed 183 people and injured many more.”I will be monitoring the situation closely,” Obama said at a press conference here at his president-elect’s office, where he introduced his national security team. Hilary Clinton, whom Obama Monday formally named as his Secretary of State, stood to his left.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of India,” he said while replying to the question on India that kicked off the press conference.

“I fully support India’s efforts to catch the perpetrators of this terrible act and to bring them to justice. I’m sure world governments feel the same way,” Obama said in response to another context.

In this context, he noted that Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari had offered to help with the Mumbai attack investigations and hoped he would keep to his commitment.