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Seven Killed, 20 Injured in Kashmir Rally

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Authorities in Indian Kashmir say an attack by Islamic militants on a rally in Srinagar has killed at least seven people, including two attackers, and wounded more than 20 other people.

The attackers hurled grenades and fired bullets at a ruling Congress Party rally to honor the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1991.

Today's attack occurred minutes before the state's Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was to address the rally.

Two Pakistan-based Islamic militant groups (Al Mansoorian and Lashkar-e-Toiba) claimed responsibility for the attack.

In New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the attack, and said such attempts will not derail the peace process. His office said Mr. Singh will go ahead with a visit to Srinagar Wednesday to take part in a two-day conference on the disputed Himalayan region.

On Saturday, four other militant groups (al Nasireen, al Arifeen, Farzandan-e-Milat and Save Kashmir Movement) threatened to disrupt the upcoming talks between Mr. Singh and Kashmiri separatist groups which shun violence.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but is claimed fully by both. Muslim separatists have been fighting for Kashmir's independence or its merger with Pakistan since 1989.

The violence has killed tens of thousands of people.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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