Indian police fired tear gas in Kashmir on Friday to disperse a second rally called to protest against the killing of two civilians by security forces.
The violence comes as campaigning winds down for the first stage of voting in a state election marred by bloodshed. Dozens of tear gas shells were fired into the crowd of a few dozen people, some of whom were hurling stones, witnesses said. There was no immediate report of injuries at the rally, which occurred just after midday Muslim prayers in the main city of Srinagar.

Earlier police also fired tear gas on a funeral convoy in the city as mourners shouted anti-Indian slogans on the way to bury one of the victims of Thursday night's shooting.

A small and peaceful protest was held outside Srinagar's main mosque against Indian rule of the disputed Himalayan region, which is also claimed by Pakistan.

PHOTO CAPTION

Tires burn on a street during a general strike in Srinagar, September 13, 2002. The strike was called after Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) killed two civilians on Thursday evening. Elections set in the region for September and October have triggered fears of increased violence by separatist guerrillas fighting New Delhi's rule in Kashmir. (Pawel Kopczynski/Re