Bush condemns death of U.S. reporter

BEIJING - President Bush on Friday condemned the killing of kidnapped reporter Daniel Pearl at the hands of Islamic extremists, saying such crimes &#34;only deepen the resolve of the United States&#34; to battle terrorism.<br> <br> A grim-faced Bush spoke from a lectern at his hotel in Beijing, on the last day of his six-day Asia tour.<br> <br> &#34;Laura and I and the American people are deeply saddened to learn about the loss of Daniel Pearl&#39;s life,&#34; Bush said. &#34;We are really sad for his wife and his parents and his friends and colleagues who have been clinging to hopes for weeks that he would be found alive.&#34;<br> <br> Pearl&#39;s wife, Marianne, is seven months pregnant with their first child. Bush expressed special sympathy for the unborn baby, &#34;who will now know his father through the memory of others.&#34;<br> <br> &#34;All Americans are sad and angry to learn of the murder,&#34; Bush said. &#34;May God bless Daniel Pearl.&#34;<br> <br> Noting the presence of other American journalists, as well as diplomats and humanitarian aid workers, in other countries, Bush warned any would-be kidnappers not to stir the United States&#39; ire with attacks or more abductions.<br> <br> &#34;Those who would threaten Americans, those who would engage in criminal, barbaric acts need to know that these crimes only hurt their cause and only deepen the resolve of the United States of America to rid the world of these agents of terror,&#34; Bush said.<br> <br> The State Department announced Pearl&#39;s death based on evidence received at the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. State spokesman Richard Boucher did not reveal details about the evidence, but two U.S. officials said the FBI was evaluating the authenticity of a videotape purportedly showing Pearl either dead or being killed. <br> <br>

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