SONIA GANDHI said she would "humbly decline" to be the next prime minister of India, a decision that followed Hindu nationalist outrage over the prospect of a foreign-born woman at the helm of the nation.

Fear of assassination has forced Italian-born Sonia Gandhi to refuse to be India’s next prime minister.

Sonia Gandhi no longer wants to be India’s first foreign-born prime minister, members of her Congress party and its political allies claimed today.

POLITICAL uncertainty and financial panic swept India yesterday after the stock market was shut down after it worst-ever plunge and two powerful communist parties refused to join a new government alliance under Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi.

Political uncertainty and financial panic swept India today as the stock market was shut down after it worst-ever plunge and two powerful communist parties refused to join a new government alliance under Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi.

Political uncertainty and financial panic swept India today as the stock market shutdown after its worst-ever plunge and two powerful communist parties refused to join a proposed new government under Sonia Gandhi.

Hardened activists, families and people making their first gestures of public protest joined in global demonstrations against war in Iraq.

India put its army on high alert today as it decided how to respond to the terrorist attack on parliament, which it blames on Islamic militant groups backed by Pakistan.