Rana on LeT: 'I appreciate them from my heart.'

An attack on India's National Defence College was discussed by suspected LeT operatives David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who offered praise for the terror outfit LeT and said he "appreciates them from heart", US prosecutors alleged on Monday.

During a conversation on September 7, 2009 between Rana and Headley, the two "discussed the National Defence College in India as a 'target'", according to papers filed by prosecutors in a court in the United States.

Prosecutors allege that Headley added the defence college as a target to his list of previously discussed targets, saying "sorry not four, five".

To this Rana responded, "Right, this is it, I knew already" further adding he "thought it is the target". Prosecutors stated that Rana used the "English word target".

According to the conversation, Headley explained that he "would ask LeT Member A to 'do that first' (attack the Defence College)" to which Rana responded affirmatively, "in this matter, do the defense".

After Headley states that "we" would use LeT Member A to carry out the attack on the defence college, Rana again offered praise for Let Member A and LeT: "They should be really commended."

"I appreciate them from my heart", Rana said according to prosecutors.

US prosecutors submitted a memorandum yesterday opposing Rana's release on bail.

They argue that "Rana's own statements, made in what he believed to be a private conversation, belie his argument to this court that he believes in non-violence. Rana is set to appear in a court here for his bail hearing.