Obama Pledges Aid to Kenya Following Terror Attack

Calls al-Shabaab "one of the most vicious terrorist organizations in the world"

NEW YORK—President Barack Obama, calling al-Shabaab "one of the most vicious terrorist organizations in the world," said he spoke with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta about the tragedy in Nairobi and promised U.S. assistance with the subsequent investigation.

"We are providing all the cooperation that we can as we deal with this situation that has captivated the world," Mr. Obama said Monday as he met with President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. "I want to express personally my condolences to not only to President Kenyatta, who lost some family members in the attack, but to the Kenyan people. We stand with them against the terrible outrage that has occurred."

Mr. Obama said the U.S. will provide Kenyans with any needed law-enforcement support as a militant siege at an upscale shopping mall continued for a third day, with at least 62 people dead.