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Convictions over 1998 India bombs Convictions over 1998 India bombs
(about 3 hours later)
A court in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has convicted 53 people for a series of bombs that killed nearly 60 people in 1998. A court in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has convicted 153 people in connection with a series of bombs that killed nearly 60 people in 1998.
The man described by the prosecution as the mastermind of the plot, SA Basha, was among those found guilty. The man described as the mastermind of the plot, SA Basha, was among the guilty. Eight people were acquitted.
Nineteen blasts hit the town of Coimbatore on 14 February 1998 before Hindu nationalist leader Lal Krishna Advani addressed an election rally. Nineteen bombs went off in the town of Coimbatore on 14 February 1998 just before Hindu nationalist leader LK Advani was due at an election rally.
The 53 found guilty, including Basha, have still to be sentenced. Sentencing is due on 6 August, with 73 people facing death or life in jail.
The BBC's TN Gopalan in Madras (Chennai) says they face either the death penalty or life imprisonment. Eighty others of those convicted face lesser sentences.
The BBC's TN Gopalan in Madras (Chennai) says many of those convicted on lesser charges are expected to be freed as they have spent so long on remand.
Five defendants are still awaiting verdicts.
Politician clearedPolitician cleared
Judge K Uthirapathy began delivering verdicts in the case, in which 166 were accused of being involved in the blasts, on Wednesday. In all 166 people faced charges of being involved in the blasts.
Correspondents say that Basha, the founder of the banned radical Muslim group, Al-Umma, is the most high profile defendant so far to be convicted. Basha, the founder of the banned radical Muslim group, Al-Umma, is the most high profile defendant to be convicted.
But another high profile defendant, Abdul Nasser Madani, the leader of the Kerala-based People's Democratic Party, has been acquitted. Another prominent defendant, Abdul Nasser Madani, the leader of the Kerala-based People's Democratic Party, was acquitted.
The 1998 bombings sparked clashes between Hindu and Muslim mobs in Coimbatore, 2,413km (1,500 miles) south of Delhi. The 1998 bombings sparked clashes between Hindu and Muslim mobs in Coimbatore, some 2,413km (1,500 miles) south of Delhi.
The bombs went off about 800 metres from where Mr Advani was due to speak.The bombs went off about 800 metres from where Mr Advani was due to speak.
At the time, he was president of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). At the time, he was president of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was not at the podium when the bombs went off because his flight had been delayed.
He was not at the podium when the bombs went off because his flight had been delayed.
Coimbatore was the scene of Hindu-Muslim clashes in November 1997 after two men belonging to a radical Muslim group allegedly killed a Hindu policeman.Coimbatore was the scene of Hindu-Muslim clashes in November 1997 after two men belonging to a radical Muslim group allegedly killed a Hindu policeman.
In all 17 people, most of them Muslims, died in the fighting. At least 17 people, most of them Muslims, died in the fighting.
Investigators said that the bomb blasts were part of a conspiracy to assassinate Mr Advani to avenge the killing of the Muslims.Investigators said that the bomb blasts were part of a conspiracy to assassinate Mr Advani to avenge the killing of the Muslims.
Sentencing is due to begin on 6 August.