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NEW DELHI, Friday (AFP) India's Supreme Court intervened over the riot-scarred state of Gujarat's handling of last year's communal violence, following criticism over the delay in prosecuting those responsible for some 2,000 deaths.

The Supreme Court said the western state would have to obtain federal clearances for special public prosecutors appointed by the state administration to try those charged with slaying Muslims. The order was seen as a stern rebuke to the state's Hindu nationalist BJP government, accused by rights groups of turning a blind eye to the sectarian violence which killed mostly Muslims.

The court also appointed India's former solicitor general Harish Salve as "amicus curiae" (friend of the court) in Gujarat. Analysts said the friend of the court's role would be as an observer to guarantee impartiality.

They said the appointment showed the Supreme Court's lack of faith in the provincial judiciary after 21 Hindus were acquitted in July for the torching of a Muslim-owned bakery during the riots that left 12 people dead.

The ruling came during the hearing of a joint petition filed by India's autonomous National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and 17-year-old Zaheera Sheikh to reopen the trial of 21 Hindus acquitted in the Best Bakery case.

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