India ups security on mosque destruction anniversary

Muslim protesters are calling for the rebuilding of the 16th century Babri Mosque which was razed by Hindu nationalists

AYODHYA, India - Extra security forces have been deployed across India in an effort to prevent possible Hindu-Muslim clashes on the anniversary of the 1992 destruction of a 16th century mosque by Hundu nationalists.

The demolition nine years ago triggered bloody riots across the country that left more than 2,000 people dead.

Authorities in the ancient northern town of Ayodhya, site of the Babri mosque have banned demonstrations around the site sacred to both Muslims and Hindus.

More than a thousand additional police and security personnel were deployed around the town, 550 kilometers east of New Delhi, to prevent any trouble.

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Police in the Indian capital were also paced on alert.

Hindu nationalist leaders say the Ayodhya mosque was built by Muslim moguls after demolishing a Hindu temple.

They believe Ayodhya to be the birthplace of god-king Rama.

The Hindus have been campaigning for the construction of a temple at the spot where the mosque stood.

But the Muslims have also demanded a re-construction of their mosque at the disputed site.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has promised to resolve the bitter religious dispute within six months and revived an official group that was set up in 1989 to settle the matter.

However, no progress has been made so far.

Hindu nationalists also said they will start building a temple on the site if the government fails to resolve the dispute by March 12.

"Neither the government nor the court will be able to stop millions of Hindus from carrying out their religious duty," Mahant Param Hans Ram Chander Das, head of the temple construction committee, told the Associated Press.

Deep division

Hindu protests have been calling for the Lord Rama temple to be rebuilt on the site

Both houses of the Indian parliament were suspended for the day due to deep divisions over the issue.

On Thursday, the opposition blocked parliamentary proceedings demanding the resignation of Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani and other ministers who were part of the crowd that pulled down the mosque.

The ministers have denied involvement in demolishing the mosque, although they were present at the site of the mosque at the time it was destroyed.

In 1992, Advani's Bharatiya Janata Party was the governing party in Uttar Pradesh state where the mosque was located.

"Advani was the main conspirator and now he is the home minister of the country. This is a discredit of democracy and discomfort to all secular forces in the country," opposition Congress party spokesman Jaipal Reddy told the Associated Press.