Indian Army Says Siege Almost Over

Indian troops have begun an assault on a Jewish community center in Mumbai where terrorists are thought to be holed up with hostages, the Times of India reports. The army also reports major progress clearing two posh hotels and asserts that the fight against the terrorists is "almost coming to an end" after two days of chaos. The death toll is at 119 but is expected to grow.

Two men who claimed to be Indian assailants called local TV stations and complained about the nation's treatment of its minority Muslim population and the situation in Kashmir. Speculation, but few hard facts, continues to swirl about the group behind the attacks. The Indian prime minister blamed forces "outside this country" in a veiled swipe at Pakistan, the New York Times notes.
(More Mumbai stories.)