Bomb found at Delhi market

Indian bomb disposal experts cordoned off a busy flower market in the capital New Delhi yesterday after finding an improvised explosive device left in an abandoned bag, police said. Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana told the NDTV news channel the bag was left behind by a customer who visited a shop to buy flowers at the Ghazipur wholesale flower market. Media reports said police carried out a controlled explosion. The market in eastern Delhi gets thousands of small farmers, horticulturists and shopkeepers early in the morning. India is in a heightened state of security ahead of Republic Day celebrations on January 26, when a military parade is due to take place in the heart of the capital.