Extra police deployed in Lucknow

Muslims tried to force Hindus to shut their shops, police said

Additional police have been deployed in Lucknow city in India's Uttar Pradesh state after Friday's Hindu-Muslim clashes, officials say.

Four people died in clashes after Muslims protesting at President Bush's Indian visit tried to force Hindu traders to shut their shops.

A two-member committee has been set up to look into the violence, Alok Sinha, the state's home secretary, said.

He described the situation as "peaceful after midnight [Friday]."

Protest

A red alert has been sounded across the state and police are keeping a strict vigil in the city, Mr Sinha said.

President Bush's visit sparked off protests across India

The state government has also announced a compensation of 500,000 rupees (about $11,317) for the next of kin of the deceased and those seriously injured will receive 100,000 rupees (nearly $2,263).

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also called a strike in protest against Friday's violence which had a partial impact on the city.

"Muslims after offering prayers went around ordering shops to down their shutters to protest President Bush's visit to India which sparked off the clashes because the Hindus objected," police chief Ashutoch Pandey told the AFP news agency on Friday.

Reports say arguments between Hindus and Muslims got out of control because of inadequate security with many police deployed elsewhere to deal with a visit by Indian President Abdul Kalam.

Three of the dead were reportedly shot. It is not yet clear how many of the dead are Muslims or Hindus.

Police said the protesters also set fire to shops and banks in the city.

The authorities have now imposed a ban on gatherings of more than five people.