Polls open in second round of Indian elections

INDIA: Polls opened Thursday in the second and largest stage of India's marathon general elections, with nearly 200 million people getting their chance to vote for a new government.

Polling booths opened at 7:00am (0130 GMT), with voting in most districts set to end at 5:00pm.

The second round stretches from the industrial state of Maharashtra in the southwest, across the heartland of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty in Uttar Pradesh, to the eastern Maoist-wracked state of Bihar.

Security was tight in many areas where Maoist rebels have threatened to disrupt the voting.

Maoist attacks on polling stations during the first phase last week claimed at least 19 lives, including 10 paramilitary troopers and five election workers.

The month-long, five-stage election - the world's largest democratic exercise - wraps up on May 13, with the final results expected three days later. NEW DELHI, Thursday, AFP