Indian Govt Admits Security Lapse in Attacks

NEW DELHI: Palaniappan Chidambaram, India's new home minister, admitted on Friday there had been security lapses surrounding last week's Mumbai attacks.

The ruling Congress party-led coalition has been under fire over what the opposition says is its weakness on security, after a series of bomb blasts this year in cities was capped by the three-day rampage by 10 gunmen in India's financial capital.

"I would be less than truthful if I said there were no lapses," Chidambaram told reporters in Mumbai. "These are being looked into. We will address the causes that led to the lapses."

Chidambaram took over the post on Sunday after predecessor Shivraj Patil quit. Elections are due by May and analysts say Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must demonstrate decisive action to counter criticism over security.

The rampage in Mumbai killed at least 171 people. India has said nine militants were killed and one captured alive, but U.S. analysts said there could have been more who escaped.


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