New Delhi - Security personnel killed at least three separatist rebels in India's north-eastern state of Manipur, a news report said Saturday.

A group of militants opened fire at a group of policemen patrolling an area in Imphal West district, 50 kilometres west of the state capital, Imphal, on Friday night, the PTI news agency reported.

Two militants were killed in the ensuing firefight, official sources told the PTI, adding that arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene.

Srinagar, Sept 13: Violent clashes between security forces and agitators continued for the second day today in Maisuma area of Srinagar.

Several slogan-shouting protesters took out a procession from Maisuma locality. The protesters were intercepted by CRPF personnel who used batons to disperse them, triggering intense clashes as the agitators indulged in stone pelting, official sources said.

So far, there were no report of any injury in the clashes, but several persons were beaten up by paramilitary forces.

Meanwhile, curfew continued for the second day in Shopian and Baramulla district towns where one person each was killed in security forces' firing on protesters on Friday.

New Delhi - India on Saturday test-fired its indigenously developed air-to-air missile Astra from a military base in eastern Orissa state, a news report said.

The missile which is capable of carrying a 15-kilogram warhead, was test-fired at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, 230 kilometres north-east of state capital Bhubaneshwar, the PTI news agency reported.

Although the exact range of Saturday's trial was not disclosed, the missile has a range of up to 110 kilometres and is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization.

Islamabad, Sep 13 : Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has stressed that there is a need for both Islamabad and New Delhi to narrow their differences on Kashmir, and added that Kashmiris must be part of the dialogue process.

“We believe that Kashmiris should be an integral component of the ongoing peace process, as they are the primary stakeholders,” Gilani said.

Gilani said the peace process between Pakistan and India had raised the level of people’s expectations, and should become a symbol of peace, tranquility and fraternity in South Asia.

The union cabinet announced Rs 500 cr for the police infrastructure in Naxal belt of the country. The government approved the creation of new anti-Naxal force, COBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) with 10000 personnel to terminate naxal force in the country.

The roads would also be built in the Naxal affected areas to increase the mobility of police. The centre would bear all charges for developing the infrastructure in jungles.

New Delhi, Sept 13 : The 123 agreement, when operational, will be a "legal document" in accordance with "well-recognised principles" of international law and the Law of Treaties, the External Affairs Ministry said last night. 

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna said: “The Indo-U. S. civil nuclear cooperation will be guided only by the 123 agreement which clearly spells out the respective rights and obligations of the two countries. The Governments of India and the United States have agreed upon the text of the agreement. It is a public document”

This statement comes in the wake of American President George W Bush’s contention that the assured fuel supplies to India are "not legally binding".