Hindu threat to mosque

AYODHYA (Reuter) - Hindu holy men and their followers converged on this northern Indian town yesterday vowing to resume building a temple where an ancient mosque now stands.

Local officials estimated that about 30,000 volunteers were arriving in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state but the hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, which is spearheading the temple campaign, put the figure at 60,000.

A senior state government official denied there was any tension in the town. The state is ruled by the Hindu revivalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which supports the temple campaign.