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| India leaders in appeal for calm | India leaders in appeal for calm |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| India's president and prime minister have appealed for calm after a series of explosions killed at least 45 people in the western city of Ahmedabad. | |
| President Pratibha Patil urged people to "remain steadfast in this testing time and maintain peace and harmony". | President Pratibha Patil urged people to "remain steadfast in this testing time and maintain peace and harmony". |
| Ahmedabad was the scene of sectarian violence between Hindus and Muslims in early 2002 which left hundreds dead. | Ahmedabad was the scene of sectarian violence between Hindus and Muslims in early 2002 which left hundreds dead. |
| On Saturday, 17 blasts within an hour struck residential areas, market places, public transport and hospitals. | On Saturday, 17 blasts within an hour struck residential areas, market places, public transport and hospitals. |
| It is thought the explosions were caused by crudely-made devices containing ball-bearings and other shrapnel, hidden in boxes and on bicycles. Local media reports say a little-known Islamist group called the Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility. | It is thought the explosions were caused by crudely-made devices containing ball-bearings and other shrapnel, hidden in boxes and on bicycles. Local media reports say a little-known Islamist group called the Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility. |
| Security alert | Security alert |
| The attack in Gujarat state's commercial capital came a day after several devices went off in the southern city of Bangalore. | The attack in Gujarat state's commercial capital came a day after several devices went off in the southern city of Bangalore. |
| In pictures: Ahmedabad blasts The government has put the security agencies on alert in other major cities, including Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur, some of which have been targets of serial bomb explosions in the past. | In pictures: Ahmedabad blasts The government has put the security agencies on alert in other major cities, including Mumbai, Delhi and Jaipur, some of which have been targets of serial bomb explosions in the past. |
| The bombs in Ahmedabad were detonated with timers and all went off in the space of 36 minutes, the first at about 1830 (1300 GMT), officials said. | The bombs in Ahmedabad were detonated with timers and all went off in the space of 36 minutes, the first at about 1830 (1300 GMT), officials said. |
| At least one other bomb has been defused overnight. | At least one other bomb has been defused overnight. |
| The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Delhi says the attacks appear to have been planned and highly co-ordinated, with some targeting the hospitals where many of the injured were being treated. More than 100 people were wounded. | The BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Delhi says the attacks appear to have been planned and highly co-ordinated, with some targeting the hospitals where many of the injured were being treated. More than 100 people were wounded. |
| The BBC's Zubair Ahmed said he saw about 60 people - some in a serious condition - being treated in a large hall at one of the hospitals. | The BBC's Zubair Ahmed said he saw about 60 people - some in a serious condition - being treated in a large hall at one of the hospitals. |
| They were surrounded by family and friends, many of whom were angry, saying the bombers wanted to cause a rift between Hindus and Muslims. | They were surrounded by family and friends, many of whom were angry, saying the bombers wanted to cause a rift between Hindus and Muslims. |
| A doctor said they had been treating bomb blast victims when there was an explosion outside the hospital, after which there was chaos. | A doctor said they had been treating bomb blast victims when there was an explosion outside the hospital, after which there was chaos. |
| He said the whole building shook and the road outside was covered in blood. | He said the whole building shook and the road outside was covered in blood. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| The aftermath of the bombing | The aftermath of the bombing |
| Our correspondent says many people are not leaving their houses for fear of more attacks. | Our correspondent says many people are not leaving their houses for fear of more attacks. |
| In a statement on her website, President Patil "expressed her heart-felt condolences for the loss of life and urged the people of Ahmedabad to remain steadfast in this testing time and maintain peace and harmony". | In a statement on her website, President Patil "expressed her heart-felt condolences for the loss of life and urged the people of Ahmedabad to remain steadfast in this testing time and maintain peace and harmony". |
| Appeal for calm | Appeal for calm |
| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also condemned the attacks, and urged people to remain calm and maintain communal harmony. | Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also condemned the attacks, and urged people to remain calm and maintain communal harmony. |
| Hospitals treating the injured were also targeted in the attacks | Hospitals treating the injured were also targeted in the attacks |
| Narendra Modi, the controversial chief minister of Gujarat, said the "land of Mahatma Gandhi has been bloodied by terrorists whom we shall not spare". | Narendra Modi, the controversial chief minister of Gujarat, said the "land of Mahatma Gandhi has been bloodied by terrorists whom we shall not spare". |
| "Terrorists are waging a war against India. We should be prepared for a long battle against terrorism," he warned. | "Terrorists are waging a war against India. We should be prepared for a long battle against terrorism," he warned. |
| Mr Modi has been accused of failing to protect Muslims in the riots in Gujarat during 2002 in which at least 1,000 people died, including many in Ahmedabad. The violence erupted when a fire broke out on a train carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing at least 59 people. | Mr Modi has been accused of failing to protect Muslims in the riots in Gujarat during 2002 in which at least 1,000 people died, including many in Ahmedabad. The violence erupted when a fire broke out on a train carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing at least 59 people. |
| Were you in any of the area's affected? If you have information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so by using the form below: | Were you in any of the area's affected? If you have information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so by using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to:yourpics@bbc.co.uk or if you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | You can send pictures and video to:yourpics@bbc.co.uk or if you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringed any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take unnecessary risks or infringed any laws. |