36 hurt in India market bombing

At least 36 people were today injured in three bomb blasts in the western Indian state of Gujarat, where Hindu-Muslim violence has claimed nearly 1,000 lives.

Police said a bomb exploded in the busy market area of the Gurukul neighbourhood of Ahmadabad, the commercial hub of Gujarat. The area is predominantly Hindu.

Five minutes later, another blast occurred in the Geetamandir neighbourhood of Ahmadabad, at a large bus terminal. Officers said 11 passengers were critically injured in the mixed Hindu-Muslim community.

A few minutes later, the third bomb exploded on a bus in Vasana suburb, also a mixed Hindu-Muslim neighbourhoodinjuring 14 people. The commissionerof police in Ahmadabad said he would have to check with hospitals about possible deaths. Mayor Himmat Singh Patel said 18 of the injured were in a serious condition.

The bombings came as Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw embarked on the latest stage of his mission to avert all-out war between India and Pakistan. The two nuclear powers exchanged fire across their ceasefire line in Kashmir as Mr Straw left Islamabad and flew to Delhi for talks with Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Earlier, India had described a speech by Pakistan's-military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, as "disappointing and dangerous" and said it had heightened rather than eased tensions.

The two countries remain locked in military confrontation, with one million troops massed on either side of their common border.

After a 75-minute meeting with General Musharraf, Mr Straw said mere promises were not enough. "The president is under no doubt about the expectation of the international community for clear action in addition to that which has already been taken to crack down on cross-border terrorism".

The latest shooting began overnight and lasted into the morning, but there were no reports of injuries.