Newly-elected Indian MPs were sworn into parliament at its first session today, weeks after a stunning election upset that saw the victory of the Congress-led alliance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Sonia Gandhi worked swiftly today to build a new coalition government for India around her family’s Congress party after a stunning upset election victory, but refused to confirm whether she would be the next prime minister.

THE Gandhi political dynasty prepared for a return to power yesterday after it was handed a stunning victory in India’s elections.

India held the fifth and final phase of the world’s largest democratic election today, amid doubts over whether Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be returned to power with a stable government.

Police armed with video cameras and soldiers with automatic rifles were among a million security forces on alert in 16 Indian states for today’s voting in the fifth and final phase of three-week Parliament elections in the world’s largest democracy.

MORE than 200 million Indians go to the polls today in the final stage of a closely- fought general election, with the future of the country’s economic reforms hanging in the balance.

Indian exit polls showed tonight that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ruling coalition may fall short of winning a majority of parliament seats after voting in the fourth round of the general election.

India’s Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee flashed a “V” sign for victory as he voted in today’s round of parliamentary elections and expressed confidence he would be returned to office for another five years, despite predictions his coalition might lose seats.

The Indian stock market went into freefall today after general election exit polls predicted a hung Parliament – which some feared could hurt the current agenda of economic liberalisation.

India’s parliamentary elections today entered a crucial third round that will determine the fate of opposition leader Sonia Gandhi and her son, first-time candidate Rahul, the latest member of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty to enter politics.

Indians braved attacks by separatists and communists as they started voting today in parliament elections expected to return Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s governing coalition to power for another five years.

THE world’s largest democracy begins polling its citizens today from cities to remote Himalayan valleys for parliamentary elections.

The world’s largest democracy starts polling its citizens tomorrow from cities to remote Himalayan valleys for parliamentary elections expected to re-elect the governing coalition thanks to a booming economy and peace prospects with neighbouring Pakistan.

NUCLEAR rivals India and Pakistan yesterday reached agreement on the timetable for sustained peace talks on disputed Kashmir and other tough issues separating the South Asian neighbours.

Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan began historic meetings today aimed at preparing the way for a sustained peace dialogue on Kashmir and other disputes that have kept them at loggerheads for decades.

India and Pakistan took a giant leap to put more than a half-century of bloodshed behind them, agreeing today to start talks next month on core disputes of nationalism and religion that have taken the nuclear-armed nations into three wars.

The leaders of India and Pakistan discussed ways to resolve the poisonous dispute over Kashmir during their historic meeting on the sidelines of a South Asian summit, Pakistani officials said today, predicting a breakthrough in relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Building on momentum toward better relations after a half-century of venom, the leaders of nuclear rivals Pakistan and India held much-anticipated face-to-face talks today.

Pakistan’s military president met with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today on the sidelines of a South Asian summit, building on momentum toward better relations after a half-century of venom.

India’s prime minister called on South Asia’s nations to put aside a long history of suspicion and “petty rivalries” and embrace a future of trust and understanding, before a historic meeting with his Pakistani counterpart.

Leaders of India and Pakistan held their first direct talks today since they nearly went to war two years ago.

INDIA’S ruling Hindu nationalist party wrested control from the opposition in three of four state legislatures, according to election results yesterday.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Hindu nationalist party today won unexpected victories over the incumbent Congress party in three state elections.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Hindu nationalist party today won unexpected victories over the incumbent Congress party in three state elections.

INDIA Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told parliament yesterday that India would not reciprocate on Pakistan’s offer to dismantle nuclear weapons.

India will not reciprocate on Pakistan’s offer to dismantle its nuclear weapons, but hoped never to have to use them against its long-time rival, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told parliament in New Delhi today.

India will not reciprocate on Pakistan’s offer to dismantle nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee told parliament in New Delhi today.

PAKISTAN’S Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali yesterday said Islamabad planned to resume road, rail and air links as well as increase sports ties with neighbouring India.

THE Pakistani Government says it would get rid of its nuclear arsenal if India were prepared to the same.

Pakistan raised the stakes in nascent peace overtures with India today, saying it would destroy its nuclear arsenal if its South Asian rival did the same.

India has given a “positive” reply to Pakistan’s invitation for Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to visit, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Islamabad today.

The Indian prime minister today offered to hold talks with nuclear-armed neighbour Pakistan to end 50 years of war and acrimony.

Pakistan’s information minister today said a telephone call from Prime Minstar Zafarullah Khan Jamali to his Indian counterpart was a critical “icebreaker” in the stand-off between the South Asian nuclear rivals.

Pakistan made a major peace overture to nuclear rival India today with a telephone call from Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali to his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee, state media reported.

INDIA’S prime minister has opened the door slightly to talks with Pakistan and it is now up to Islamabad to step into the room, analysts and officials said yesterday.

INDIA’S prime minister, in a rare visit to Kashmir, called for talks with Pakistan over the war-torn Himalayan region yesterday and promised its people better days ahead.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was today becoming the first Indian prime minister in 16 years to hold a public rally in troubled Jammu-Kashmir state.

Nuclear rivals India and Pakistan expelled each other’s top diplomats today, virtually slamming the door on hopes for a dialogue to settle the long-standing Kashmir dispute.

A Hindu temple in Calcutta has insured its pilgrims against terrorist attacks.

GUNMEN stormed a crowded Hindu temple and opened fire, killing at least 23 worshippers yesterday in a western Indian state where hundreds of people were killed in religious rioting this year.

Despite expectations, both India’s houses of Parliament adjourned today without Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee commenting on Saturday’s attack by suspected Islamic militants that killed 28 civilians in India-controlled Kashmir.

Indian leaders began voting for a new figurehead president today, with the father of the country’s missile programme almost certain to win.

The Prime Minister of India has ruled out the possibility of war with Pakistan.

The Indian prime minister said Pakistan’s guarantees - not pressure from the United States - helped avert a war with its longtime South Asian rival, a newspaper reported today.

US envoy Richard Armitage said today that Pakistan’s president had assured him that he wants to do everything he can to avoid war with India.

Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said today that India would consider joint monitoring of the disputed Kashmir border with its long-time rival Pakistan.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today refused to renounce the first use of nuclear weapons, as efforts to bring him together with his Indian counterpart appeared to fail.

India's prime minister says Pakistan's leader has kept none of his promises over the past six months.

International efforts to pull India and Pakistan back from the edge of nuclear war appeared to stall again today as the Indian premier refused to hold talks with Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf.

The Government has advised Irish nationals to leave India and Pakistan as the two nuclear powers edge closer towards all-out war over the disputed region of Kashmir.