New Delhi - The trial against Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving gunmen of the November Mumbai terror attack suffered a setback Wednesday when a special court dismissed the state-appointed lawyer for professional misconduct, news reports said. Anjali Waghmare failed to disclose that she also represented a witness in the same case when she was appointed to defend Kasab, NDTV news quoted judge ML Tahiliyani of the special court as saying.

"It will not be appropriate for Waghmare to continue. I revoke the appointment," Tahiliyani said, citing a conflict of interest.

He said Waghmare's deputy KP Pawar would continue to represent Kasab, and adjourned the court until later in the day.

Some reports said the court was likely to recess until another lawyer was appointed to represent Kasab, because Waghmare's deputy was considered to lack experience.

The judge said even though Kasab was a foreign national, it was the court's duty to provide him with legal aid and a fair trial.

"Providing true legal aid is not charity. It is the right of the accused," the judge said.

Kasab, allegedly a member of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist organization, is accused of being part of a 10-member group that mounted attacks in Mumbai for three days beginning November 26.

He was captured hours after the assault. More than 170 people were killed in the siege, including the nine other gunmen.

Kasab is accused of murder and waging war against the nation, among other charges.

He is being kept in custody at the high-security Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai where the trial is being held under tight surveillance with limited access to the media.

Two Indian nationals who are accused along with Kasab are also facing trial.

Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed are charged with conducting reconnaissance of the Taj Mahal and Trident hotels and the railway station that were the terrorists' targets. They allegedly prepared maps and gave them to the LET.

Indian police filed a 11,000-page charge sheet against 38 people including Kasab. A total of 2,202 witnesses have been identified but it is not yet clear how many will be called to testify.

The charges allege key planners of the assaults included Pakistan-based LET leaders Hafeez Sayyid, Fahim Ansari, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi and Zarar Shah.

Those men are in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and have been listed as "wanted absconders."(dpa)