The terrorist bombings in Mumbai on Tuesday that killed at least 183 people have been met with world-wide criticism of the perpetrators and an outpouring of sympathy for the victims and their families.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her condolences and harshly condemned the terrorist attacks. In a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the chancellor wrote that "the terrible news has taken me aback" and offered her "deeply felt" commiserations with Singh and all Indians.

Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the seven bombings on commuter trains an "underhand" terrorist attack.

"The attacks in India have profoundly upset me," Steinmeier said in a statement. "The German government condemns with the utmost firmness these underhand terrorist acts."

Militant groups deny involvement

While leaders from around the world lashed out at those who masterminded the bombings, militia groups, particularly Isalmic ones, also distanced themselves quickly from Tuesday's bloodbath in western India.

Indian police said that Islamic militants may have been behind the blasts but D.K. Snakaran, chief secretary of Maharashtra state where Mumbai is located, said it was impossible to pin the blame on any single group while investigations were ongoing.

"All media reports are based on guesswork," he said.

Local papers said police were probing links between the Students' Islamic Movement of India and Lashkar-e-Taiba, or Army of the Pious. Lashkar spokesman Abdullah Ghaznavi told AFP that his group was not involved.

"These killings are inhuman," he said. "Our jihad (struggle) is only against the Indian troops in Kashmir. Islam does not allow the killing of innocent people."

Pressure on Pakistan?

Analysts expect the pressure on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to be renewed as a result of the attacks. Militants in Kashmir have been accused by New Delhi of leading a 17-year insurgency against Indian rule in the divided state. India has long felt Pakistan has condoned the activities of Kashmiri insurgents.

It wasn't until the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and the ensuing "war on terror" that Musharraf has made a concerted effort to tackle primarily Islamic militants acting on Pakistani territory.

But while his efforts have been praised by the US, which regards him as a key ally in the war, Musharraf still faces accusations from India that many militant outfits in Pakistan are still active.