Obama saddened by loss of life in Indonesia

US President Barack Obama today said that he and the First Lady are deeply saddened by the loss of life and damage that have occurred as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in West Sumatra.

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday said that he and the First Lady are deeply saddened by the loss of life and damage that have occurred as a result of the recent earthquake and tsunami in West Sumatra.

HT Image

Obama, who spent some years of his childhood in Indonesia, will visit the country next month, the schedule of which has not been announced yet.

"At the same time, I am heartened and encouraged by the remarkable resiliency of the Indonesian people and the commitment of their Government to rapidly assist the victims," Obama said.

"As a friend of Indonesia, the United States stands ready to help in any way. Meanwhile, our thoughts and prayers are with the Indonesian people and all those affected by this tragedy," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile the White House ruled out that the forthcoming Indonesia trip of the US President could be cancelled or postponed once again due to the series of natural disasters in the country.

"I have not heard any expressed concern about any of those things impacting the trip," the White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, told reporters at his daily news conference.