Indian town tense after protest

India has seen a number of anti-US demonstrations

The Indian authorities say the situation remains tense in the western town of Malegoan, where anti-US protests have left a total of 12 people dead.

Three more people were killed on Sunday night when some protestors tried to block the main road connecting Malegaon to the capital Delhi in protest at the US attacks on Afghanistan.

Police say they used baton charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd but when that failed, they fired at the protestors.

Trouble started on Friday when police fired at protestors distributing anti-US phamplets and calling for a boycott of American and western products.

Army deployed

The fresh violence came despite the town being under curfew for the last three days.

Officials say the situation in the area continues to remain tense and there are no immediate plans to relax the curfew.

The army has been deployed to maintain law and order.

Boycott

In another development, Muslim hotel and restaurant owners are to meet in Bombay on Tuesday to discuss a ban on all American and western products.

The General Secretary of the recently-formed Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shahbuddin Sheikh, said a boycott of goods had been called to register the anger of Indian Muslims over the US-led bombings on civilians in Afghanistan.

Reports say small restaurants owned by Muslims are already enforcing a boycott of American products like Coke and Pepsi.

The meeting on Tuesday aims to make the ban more formal.

The Indian Government has given full support to the US action against Afghansitan, but some Muslim groups have held protests against the attacks.