India admits security lapse
India's new home minister has admitted there had been security lapses surrounding last week's Mumbai attacks.
New Delhi has blamed the attacks, which killed at least 171 people, on militants from neighbouring Pakistan.
The ruling Indian Congress party-led coalition has been under fire over what the opposition says is its weakness on security.
Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said: "I would be less than truthful if I said there were no lapses. These are being looked into. We will address the causes that led to the lapses."
Mr Chidambaram took over the post on Sunday after predecessor Shivraj Patil quit.
Elections are due by May and analysts say Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must demonstrate decisive action to counter criticism over security.
To add to the tension across India, gunshot-like sounds heard at New Delhi's international airport early on Friday sparked a security scare. Police said no one was hurt.
Police and commandos closed down the area by the heavily guarded airport, while an SUV with a lone occupant sped away. Police gave chase but lost the vehicle, a television news channel said.
Most of Mumbai was brought to a halt after Islamist gunmen went on a three-day rampage and a series of bomb blasts killed dozens of people.
After the attacks India said nine militants were killed and one captured alive, but US analysts said there could have been more who escaped.
Farhana Ali, a former CIA and Rand Corp counter-terrorism analyst and expert on militant networks, said: "I think there are more. My sources say (there were) at least 23 of the gunmen."
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