Indian parliament to debate nuke tests

The Indian parliament reconvenes today Wednesday for the first time since the nuclear tests which attracted widespread international criticism.

The prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, will open two days of debate on the issue.

Opposition parties are expected to be strongly critical, accusing the government of using the tests to boost their political standing.

This session of parliament will also see a new budget -- expected on Monday; legislation to reserve a third of parliamentary seats for women, and the appointment of an ombudsman to deal with complaints against the government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service