Muslims protest against Bush visit

TENS of thousands of Muslims and communists took to the streets across India yesterday protesting against the visit of US President George W Bush, hours before his arrival.

Mr Bush’s three-day visit to the world’s largest democracy, which is also Asia’s third-largest economy, has raised expectations in India as it sheds its socialist baggage and turns to the West to help it become a regional power.

However, it has also drawn the ire of leftist and Muslim groups who staged large protests in several cities across the country against Bush’s policies.