White House condemns Peshawar attack

(Reuters) - The White House strongly condemned a militant attack on the U.S. consulate in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Monday.

Pakistani Taliban militants claimed responsibility for the attack in which militants using a car bomb and firing weapons attacked the consulate. Eight people including three militants were killed but no one in the U.S. mission was hurt.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the U.S. response was one of "great concern".

"We strongly condemn the violence and the actions," Gibbs told reporters when asked about the attack.

"And I would point out that ... extremists in Pakistan have succeeded in killing Pakistanis, which I think hardens the view that has led to gains that have been made over the course of the year against extremism by native Pakistanis".

The violence underscored the danger posed by militants in nuclear-armed U.S. ally Pakistan after a year of military offensives which have dealt the Islamists significant setbacks.

Editing by Sandra Maler

Reuters