Yagami Website

MUMBAI - India marked the first anniversary Thursday of last year's militant attacks on Mumbai with a show of security and ceremonies to honour the 166 victims killed in the deadly rampage by 10 Islamist gunmen.

The day of remembrance came as India continued to push Pakistan, where the gunmen are believed to have trained, to crack down on extremist groups, amid lingering concerns about lax homeland security.

Police paraded through Mumbai and abseiled down tall buildings, showing off new hardware, including armour-plated vehicles and amphibious vehicles bought as part of a 1.3-billion-rupee (27-million-dollar) upgrade package.

Prayers and vigils are also planned at several attack sites where the victims, including 25 foreigners, were killed in strikes that have been compared to those on September 11, 2001 in the United States.

Faith leaders and diplomats from some of the countries that lost nationals on Wednesday lit candles at a synagogue, with calls for unity to fight and defeat extremism around the world.

The two luxury hotels attacked, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and the Trident-Oberoi, both took out full-page newspaper advertisements, paying tribute to those who died and thanking guests, staff and the security services.

"We offer our heartfelt gratitude," the Taj advert ran. "Today we take a step forward. Tomorrow we'll take many more."

The heavily-armed gunmen arrived in Mumbai undetected by boat before hitting their targets, which also included a popular tourist restaurant, Jewish centre and the main railway station.

The bloody, 60-hour siege, which was beamed live across the world on television, shocked the country, sparked a public backlash against Pakistan and led to an international investigation.

Seven suspects were indicted in a Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Wednesday in connection with the attacks. They all denied the charges.

Two men detained by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Chicago are also being probed by Indian authorities for their links to the atrocities, blamed by India on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Two Pakistanis were also arrested last week in Italy on suspicion of having sent money to people implicated in the attacks and are being held in custody.

The only gunman captured by Indian security sources, Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, confessed to his role in the killings during a high-profile trial in Mumbai, which could result in him receiving the death penalty.

The first anniversary comes after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to the United States this week in which he called for the world to pressure Pakistan to rein in extremists.

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of harbouring the LeT, which is suspected of training, equipping and funding the gunmen, with the support of elements from the Pakistani military and intelligence.

The attacks ended peace talks between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and rivals, with India vowing not to return to the table until all those responsible were brought to justice.

Singh, who welcomed the indictment against the LeT suspects, has called on the world to "use all its influence to curb the power of terrorist groups" in Pakistan, which has seen a rise in Taliban-linked violence in recent months.

Pakistan admitted under international pressure earlier this year that the gunmen left for Mumbai from the southern port city of Karachi.

Security has been improved in Mumbai in the last year after criticisms that the police lacked men, equipment and training to respond effectively.

Luxury hotels have introduced airport-style checks on bags and visitors and there is a visible, armed police presence at key locations, while private security firms have seen an upsurge in business for corporate clients.

Elite commandos are now stationed in Mumbai and local police have set up their own rapid reaction units.

But experts and a number of Indian newspaper editorials say more needs to be done to prevent another attack, with coastal security a priority.