Srinagar, Apr 18 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Saturday termed pre-conditions for talks with Pakistan `dangerous'.

"The pre-conditions set by India that peace process would not be resumed till Pakistan hands over the Mumbai attack accused is dangerous for peace in the South Asia," Mufti told reporters here.

Doda (Jammu and Kashmir), Apr 18 : Thousand''s of devotees are visiting the Subar Nag (serpentine divinity) temple at Bhaderwah in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, as part of an annual pilgrimage.

Since thousands of years, people here celebrate the Nag festival with fervour and gaiety.

The Nag festival is considered to be very sacred and auspicious by the locals. Tourists come here from across the country to witness the festival.

New Delhi, Apr 18 : Two days before demitting the Election Commission office, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami on Saturday said that the BJP leader Varun Gandhi's controversial speech was worse than what was aired.

"There is no reason to believe that the tape containing Varun's speech was doctored. His speech was worse than what was aired," Gopalaswami said in an interview with NDTV.

Chennai, Apr 18 : With temperature rising in Tamil Nadu, the sale of watermelons and juices have picked up.

The temperature in Chennai, the state capital, was recorded at over 39.1 degree Celsius with humidity in the range of 69 percent on Thursday. Last year, the maximum temperature recorded was 42.1 degree celsius on May 18, but this year the temperature is inching towards that number in April itself.

Ankara - Thousands of people gathered in Ankara on Saturday in support of a number of academics who were charged on Friday of being members of the so-called Ergenekon conspiracy to overthrow Turkey's moderate Islamist government.

Waving Turkish flags and shouting slogans such as "Turkey is secular and will remain so," the group filled the large open square outside of the mausoleum of the founder of the Turkish republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Valletta, Malta - Some 150 would-be illegal immigrants remained in a watery limbo off the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa on Saturday as Italy and Malta traded accusations of failure to live up to their international obligations.

The group of African immigrants was rescued from two separate boats by a Turkish cargo ship near Lampedusa on Thursday in an operation coordinated by the Armed Forces of Malta.