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FACTBOX-Key developments in Mumbai attacks on Friday
28 Nov 2008 11:57:33 GMT
 Source: Reuters
Nov 28 (Reuters) - Indian commandos took control of Mumbai's Trident-Oberoi hotel on Friday, but battles raged on with militants who were still holed up in another luxury hotel, the Taj Mahal, and a Jewish centre with about half a dozen foreign hostages.

Below are Friday's main developments in the militant attacks which killed at least 121 in India's financial hub:

OBEROI/TRIDENT

The chief of the elite National Security Guards, J.K. Dutt, said the Oberoi Hotel and Trident were under their control, announcing the end of the siege.

Earlier more than 90 guests, many of them well-dressed and dragging their suitcases, trickled out of the hotel and were escorted into waiting buses and cars, 36 hours after the siege began. One foreign member of the hotel staff held his baby in his arms.

Mumbai's police chief said 24 bodies were found in the hotel on Friday. [nISL392010]

TAJ MAHAL HOTEL

The head of one commando unit searching for militants at the Taj said he had seen 12 to 15 bodies in one room among a total of 50 in the hotel.

Government and army officials said operations would be wrapped up within hours.

At least one militant was still thought to be holding two hostages at the hotel, but army commander Lieutenant-General N. Thamburaj told reporters almost all guests and staff had been evacuated from the historic, 105-year-old hotel. [nSP373908]

Survivors emerging from the shattered Taj Mahal hotel told of how hotel staff had heroically put the lives of their guests first and thrown themselves into harm's way.[nB147671]

JEWISH CENTRE

Israel's ambassador to India said he believed six or more Israeli nationals were still being held hostage at Jewish centre. Among those held were a rabbi and his wife. [ISL305449]

Early on Friday, Indian commandos, their faces covered by balaclavas, rappeled from helicopters onto the roof of the centre to flush out militants there.

SEA BORNE ATTACK?

Coast guard officials said an Indian-owned fishing trawler may have been used to deliver the militants who attacked from the sea. The boat was found abandoned near the Mumbai shore with communications equipment on board and could have been hijacked.

"We also found a dead body in the vessel," Commandant Kulpreet Yadav told Reuters. "We took the boat under tow and handed it over to the police for investigation." [nDEL358207]

INDIA LECTURES PAKISTAN

India again pointed a finger at Pakistani-linked "elements" for Wednesday's attacks. Pakistan urged New Delhi not to play politics over the attacks. [nLR648031]

Islamabad agreed to send the head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to India to share information on the attacks, following a request by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

TRAVEL WARNINGS

Australia and Singapore upgraded travel warnings for India, telling nationals to reconsider plans to go there. [nSP337859]

CRICKET TOUR

The Indian cricket board switched the second test against England scheduled for Dec 19 to Chennai from Mumbai. The England players are to fly home on Saturday after their last two one-day games were called off following the attacks.[nDEL382322]

MARKET REACTION

India's stock market seesawed, falling and then rising 1 percent before ending the day up 0.7 percent, while the rupee weakened past 50 per dollar towards a recent record low in the first day of trade since the attacks. [nBOM345622]

Bond yields touched their lowest level in more than three years in anticipation of interest rate cuts from the central bank to shore up confidence battered by the global financial crisis and the train of attacks around the city. (Compiled by Mark Williams; Editing by John Mair and Sanjeev Miglani)


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