New Delhi - Thousands of people formed a human chain in Mumbai Friday to protest against the November 26 terrorist attacks in India's financial capital that claimed at least 173 lives.

Shortly after midday, scores of schoolchildren, senior citizens, office workers and housewives formed what organisers dubbed a "solidarity chain" that passed through sites that were targeted by the terrorists.

The demonstrators shouted slogans calling for a surge in the fight against terrorism.

New Delhi - Indian Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill Friday opposed the national cricket squad's tour to Pakistan in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, a news report said.

It was not the right time to play cricket with Pakistan when "people from their soil were indulging in mass murder in India," the Press Trust of India news agency quoted Gill as saying.

The Indian government is yet to clear the cricket team's January 6 to February 19 tour to Pakistan.

"Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder, and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore, immediately after," Gill said.

New Delhi, Dec. 12 : The recent terrorist assaults in Mumbai have demonstrated more than ever that unless the United States reverses course on Pakistan, it will begin losing the war in Afghanistan, claims Brahma Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research.

The author of the book "Asian Juggernaut: The Rise of China, India and Japan," goes on further to say that this “ shift holds the key to the successful outcome of both the war in Afghanistan and the wider international fight against transnational terror.”

Ranchi, Dec 12: In an attempt to motivate children back to school the State Government has initiated a unique idea to celebrate birthdays of poor kids at schools.

The latest step has been taken after mid-day meals and distribution of free uniforms, could not produce expected results of bringing back children to schools.

The programme especially focusses on the poor tribal children for whom celebration of birthdays is like a dream, many of them are not even aware about their birth date.

New Delhi, Dec. 12 : The Union Sports Minister M S Gill has sent a strong message across the border by saying that Indian cricket team should not tour Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai terror attack.

Gill said that it is not the right time to play cricket with Pakistan when "people from their soil were indulging in mass murder in India".

"Is it possible for one team to arrive in Mumbai and indulge in mass murder, and have another team go and play cricket in the winter afternoon sun at Lahore, immediately after," he asked while addressing the media today .

Washington, Dec. 12 : Indian Americans have launched a signature campaign to demand that Pakistan be declared a terrorist state.

A Daily Times report says that copies of one of several petitions are being kept at scores of condolence meetings and candle light vigils being held across the US to honour the memory of those who were killed in the Mumbai terrorist attacks last month.