**A court in Pakistan has charged seven people in connection with last year’s attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai.**They include the alleged mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
Mr Lakhvi and the other suspects were charged under Pakistan’s anti-terrorism act and criminal code. All seven have pleaded not guilty, their lawyers say.
More than 170 people, including nine gunmen, were killed in the attacks in November. Nine other suspects have been charged in absentia.
Some of those are thought to be at large in Pakistan - others overseas.
The attacks led India to suspend peace talks with Pakistan. Indian PM Manmohan Singh said in July talks would not restart until the Mumbai attacks suspects were brought to justice.
Timing doubts
The AFP news agency said seven suspects who were charged in court included alleged key Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Zarar Shah.
The suspects are charged with planning the Mumbai attacks. It is alleged they trained and equipped the gunmen who attacked the city.
The charges were read to them at a special anti-terrorist court set up inside the Rawalpindi jail where they are being held.
The BBC’s Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says some may question the timing of the charges, coming as they do on the eve of the first anniversary of the attacks.
Pakistan’s government had initially announced the trial would start in early July, but it was postponed. The authorities say they needed time to gather evidence.
Our correspondent says the delay could also have been caused in part by wrangling between Pakistan and India. Islamabad, which does not want to be seen to be kow-towing, has accused its neighbour of taking months to hand over vital evidence needed to secure arrests.
India and the US have demanded Pakistan take steps against those who plan attacks on its soil - and they will be looking at this case for evidence that Islamabad is serious, our correspondent says.
Prosecutors say they are determined to bring convictions and secure the maximum sentence for those in the dock.
Following the attacks, Pakistan rounded up a number of suspects - among them the Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed who spent some time in custody before being released due to lack of evidence. He has denied any involvement.