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NEW DELHI, April 9 (AFP) - Indian Church leaders on Tuesday condemned ongoing sectarian violence in the western state of Gujarat and called for the dismissal of the state government and the imposition of presidential rule.

"Even though more than 800 lives have been lost and nearly a hundred thousand people made homeless, the violence in Gujarat shows no signs of abating," said Archbishop Cyril Mar Beselios, president of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India.

"We make a strong demand for imposition of president's rule immediately ... so that peace and normalcy may return to Gujarat," Besilos said.

His comments were part of statement issued jointly with the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and the Evangelical Fellowship of India.

The worst sectarian bloodletting to hit India for nearly a decade erupted in Gujarat on February 27 following an attack by Muslims on a train carrying Hindu activists.

Hundreds were killed in the ensuing Hindu backlash and reports continue to come in daily of incidents of communal killings.

"The only way to save the current Indian democratic state is that every citizen of this nation come forward to defend other citizens who are under attack by hardcore fundamentalists," said NCCI president, Bishop Geeverghese Mar Coorilos.

The joint statement said the attacks on the Muslim community in Gujarat smacked of a "fascist ideology" in action.

Opposition parties have also called for the sacking of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, saying he had failed to act swiftly or decisively enough to contain the violence.

The government has rebuked Modi but rejected demands for his dismissal.

Christians had come under attack from Hindu extremists in Gujarat's remote Dangs district in December 1999.

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