Fresh rioting in Gujarat

The bloodshed shows little sign of ending

Police in the western Indian state of Gujarat say four more people have been killed in renewed rioting in the state's main city, Ahmedabad.

Fernandes has visited the state to assess the situation

The Indian army has taken control of parts of the city of Ahmedabad and a curfew has been imposed in the worst-affected areas.

The latest clashes followed the worst communal violence in the city in more than a month over the weekend, which left at least 17 people dead.

The Indian parliament was adjourned on Monday after opposition protests over the latest deaths.

At least 800 people have been killed in clashes between Muslims and Hindus in Gujarat since March, most of them Muslims.

Deadlock

The Indian parliament has been deadlocked for a week over the issue, with the opposition pushing for a debate and vote on the Gujarat situation.

A decision is expected on whether the army is to stay

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Sunday there would be no discrimination on the basis of religion or politics in finding and prosecuting those involved in the violence.

Meanwhile, the government reacted angrily to published comments by Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomiojaa, who described the violence as "a matter of great concern."

The minister said in an interview with The Indian Express published on Friday that pictures of the rioting were "very disturbing".

The AFP news agency quoted Indian foreign ministry spokeswoman Nirupama Rao as saying Delhi had lodged a protest with Finland through diplomatic channels.

"We would like to make clear that India does not appreciate interference in our internal affairs including the utilisation of the Indian media by ... visiting dignitaries to make public statements in order to pander to their domestic lobbies," she was quoted as saying.

Mob violence

The latest violence came as Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes visited Ahmedabad to assess how long the army needs to stay deployed there.

The defence minister's visit coincided with a political row over the Gujarat State Government's handling of the violence.

Parties both within the federal governing coalition and in the opposition have demanded the sacking of the state's Chief Minister, Narendra Modi.

He has been accused of turning a blind eye to the violence against Muslims.

But the main governing party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is standing by him.

A meeting to resolve the impasse in the federal parliament failed on Friday as the government refused to agree to an opposition demand to a debate on Gujarat followed by a vote.