Kashmir authorities say separatists may campaign against Indian parliamentary elections

The authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir say the leaders of the separatist alliance, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, will be allowed to lawfully campaign against the forthcoming Indian parliamentary elections.

The state's chief secretary, Ashok Jaitley, said the security situation in the state has improved a lot since the last elections, in l996.

At that time security forces detained Hurriyat leaders several times.

The Hurriyat intends to boycott the elections beginning next month.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service