India on alert after Delhi blasts

NEW DELHI - Indian police combed the sites of three bombings in New Delhi today for clues as to who was to blame for a coordinated militant attack that killed at least 55 people, just days before major Hindu and Muslim festivals.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who cut short a visit to Kolkata to rush back to the capital, blamed the attacks in crowded pre-holiday markets on Saturday local time on terrorists, but said it was too early to speculate who was behind the blasts.

New Delhi's chief minister appealed for people to stay away from public areas for the next few days ahead of the major Hindu celebration of Diwali, or the festival of lights, on Tuesday and the Islamic Eid al-Fitr a few days later.

In Delhi, extra armed police were on the streets and the turnout at some temples and mosques was lower than normal.

The financial capital of Mumbai, hit by major bombings in 2003 and 1993, and other cities were on alert and security was stepped up at airports and rail and bus stations across India.

The blasts came as Indian and Pakistani officials meeting in Islamabad agreed to open their Kashmir frontier to help victims of the South Asia earthquake, the latest step in a peace process criticised by some Islamic militant groups.

Hospital officials said at least 55 people were confirmed dead and more than 110 were still in hospital, many of them critically injured, some with severe burns. Some local media put the death toll as high as 70.

Media said 10 people had been held for questioning, but this was not confirmed by police.

Saturday's blasts struck two markets and near a bus at another as dusk fell across the capital of 14 million people, a time when millions were packing the bazaars for special sweets and last minute presents for the coming festivals.

Singh appealed for calm. "These terrorists wish to spread a sense of fear and suspicion among our peace-loving people," he told reporters.

"These blasts have been timed to create disaffection during the festive season when people of all communities are celebrating our national festivals. We shall defeat their nefarious designs.

"The people of India have the will, capacity and resolution to win the war against terrorism."

Pakistan, the United Nations and other countries condemned the attacks, especially coming at such a sensitive time.

India has blamed previous attacks on Pakistan-based militants, including one on parliament in 2001 that brought the two countries close to nuclear war.

But the country is also racked by scores of revolts and in May two blasts blamed on Sikh separatists killed one person and injured dozens in Delhi.

The United States recently warned its citizens of a possible terrorist attack on US interests in Delhi and elsewhere, and Indian authorities are hunting a suspected al Qaeda operative. The city's American Embassy School cancelled classes on Monday.

There were no reports of foreign deaths.

- REUTERS