India asks Pakistan to hand over suspects in Mumbai attacks

Gauhati: India's prime minister demanded on Saturday that Pakistan hand over suspects in the Mumbai attacks.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated that India does not want war with Pakistan "but it must hand over the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks."

"We hope that these criminals will be handed over to us to face trial in our country.... We have not succeeded so far, but we have not given up hope," the Indian premier said.

Last month, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee asked Islamabad to hand over 40 suspected militants who are free and living in Pakistan.

The list includes some that India believes were involved in the three-day siege that killed 164 people in Mumbai.

India blames Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba for the deadly November 26 attacks.

Islamabad has so far rejected India's demand and says New Delhi must provide evidence against any suspects who will be tried in Pakistan.