Bail for Indian MP

A leading Indian politician has been granted bail after spending over a year in jail on charges of supporting the Tamil Tigers.

Vaiko's bail has strict conditions applied to it

The politician, Vaiko, was arrested in July 2002, after a speech allegedly backing the rebels, who are banned in India.

The Tigers, who spent years fighting for autonomy in Sri Lanka, are blamed for assassinating former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.

Vaiko is consulting his lawyer on whether to accept bail because of conditions attached to it.

Campaign plans

The politician was charged under a controversial anti-terrorism law in the southern city of Madras in 2002.

A special court granted him bail on Tuesday but told him not to leave Madras until the trial, which is in its final stages, had ended.

It also barred him from addressing the media.

Analysts say the severe conditions stipulated for Vaiko's bail will severely hamper his campaign plans for the general elections due within three months.

Eight other members of his party who were arrested along with him on the same charges have already been released on bail.