Bombs kill more than 50 in Indian capital

Three powerful bombs ripped through New Delhi markets packed with families and shoppers yesterday ahead of the biggest Hindu and Muslim festivals of the year, killing over 50 people and wounding scores more.

Charred bodies, blood, glass and smoking debris littered the scenes as rescuers frantically pulled out the dead and injured while thousands of survivors milled around in shock trying to find out what had happened to missing relatives.

At least 51 people were killed and 54 injured in the blasts which occurred within minutes of each other, said an aide to Delhi state Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared it an act of terrorism, while adding it was too early to speculate who was responsible.

India has blamed previous attacks on the capital on Pakistan-based militants, including one on parliament in 2001 that killed more than a dozen people and brought India and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear war.

But the country is also racked by scores of rebellions and two cinema blasts blamed on Sikh separatists killed one person and injured dozens in May. As it has with previous attacks, Pakistan immediately condemned "these terrorist blasts". Indian officials said the powerful explosive RDX was used in all three explosions.

The United States recently warned its citizens of a possible terrorist attack on US interests in Delhi and elsewhere, and Indian authorities are hunting a suspected al Qaeda operative.