Mumbai suspect 'to hear charges

Indian police say they wile file charges on Wednesday against the man identified as the sole surviving gunman from November's Mumbai attacks.

The charge sheet against Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab and others is expected to run to thousands of pages.

Police say Mr Qasab and nine other gunmen attacked sites in the financial capital. More than 170 people died.

India accused Pakistan-based militants of the attacks. Pakistan has admitted they were partly planned on its soil.

Difficult relations
Mumbai (Bombay) joint commissioner of police Rakesh Maria told reporters on Tuesday: "The charge sheet will be filed tomorrow [Wednesday]. We will file the charge sheet in a city court. It is a mammoth document."

Indian law requires charges to be laid in court within 90 days of detention and Mohammed Ajmal Amir Qasab was arrested on 28 November.

Media reports say the charge sheet may name suspects believed to still be in Pakistan as well as the 10 gunmen.

Among the charges Mr Qasab is expected to face is that of waging war against India. He could face the death penalty if found guilty.

A government lawyer, Ujjal Nikam, told the Reuters news agency that two Indians accused of scouting for the attacks would also be charged.

Relations between India and Pakistan have worsened considerably since the November attacks.
India accused militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba of being behind the attacks and suggested that "state actors" in Pakistan were also involved.

It has submitted a list of suspects to Pakistan and demanded they be handed over.
Pakistan and Lashkar have denied involvement.

However, Pakistan's investigation this month found that at least nine suspected attackers had sailed from Karachi to Mumbai in three boats in November.

Pakistan says it has indicted eight people, six of whom have already been arrested, and that any trials will take place on its soil.source:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7908496.stm