Eight killed in Kashmir attack

Sunday, 21, May 2006 03:10

At least eight people were killed and more than 20 injured after a gunfight at a rally in Indian-administered Kashmir.

Witnesses said the attack began when two men in police uniforms, thought to be Islamic militants, started firing at the rostrum during the Congress party rally in Srinagar.

The rally, which was held in tribute to the former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, was attended by thousands of people.

Those killed are thought to include the two militants, two policemen and four civilians.

Congress Party worker Mohammed Sayeed told the Associated Press news agency he had seen "more than a dozen people hit by bullets".

Two militant groups, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Al-Nasireen, have claimed responsibility for the attack.

The meeting had been scheduled to mark the anniversary of the death of Gandhi, who was assassinated by a suicide bomber on May 21st 1991 in Tamil Nadu.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was to address the crowds at the rally, was not present when today's attack took place.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the attack, saying that the attempts would not prevent efforts to bring peace to the Himalayan area.

"It is only through dialogue that a lasting solution can be found," he said in a statement.

The region of Kashmir has been at the centre of ongoing clashes between India and Pakistan for more than half a century.