Indian PM announces raft of anti-terror measures

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday announced the setting up of a Federal Investigating Agency and measures to strengthen maritime and air security in the wake of the terrorist savagery in the country's financial capital Mumbai.

"In the face of this national threat and in the aftermath of this national tragedy, all of us from different political parties must rise above narrow political considerations and stand united. We should work together in the interest of the country at this critical juncture," he said in his opening remarks at an all-party meeting here.

Singh convened the meeting to take stock of the security situation and ways to strengthen the intelligence machinery in the country following three days and three nights of Mumbai terror that claimed 183 lives and injured over 300.

While noting that "several measures are already in place to deal with the situation", he underlined that much more needed to be done "and we are determined to take all necessary measures to overhaul the system".

"We are further strengthening maritime and air security for which measures have been initiated," said Singh.

He added that anti-terrorism forces in the country, including the commandos who ended the hostage crisis, would be further strengthened.

The government has also finalised a set of legal measures to allow or the formation of the Federal Investigating Agency, Singh told some 20 political leaders from the treasury and the opposition.