President Barack Obama believes that the indictment of Pakistani-American terror suspect David Coleman Headley, charged with criminal conspiracy in the Mumbai terror attacks, is an "important day" in efforts to protect the American people.

"Obviously, I continue to say, and the president does, too, that we have taken and will continue to take every step necessary to protect the American people," White House spokesperson Robert Gibbs told reporters Monday. "Today was an important day in doing that."