Bangladesh accuses Indian ships

CHITTAGONG,(AFP)

Bangladesh accused India Friday of sending ships into its territory to explore for gas in a mineral-rich, disputed stretch of water in the Bay of Bengal, officials said.

Bangladeshi naval personnel had sighted "Indian ships overlapping into our plains of the Bay of Bengal," Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain told AFP, adding they appeared to be exploring for gas.

A naval commander said two Bangladeshi ships had been sent to the region and a third was on its way as a reinforcement. They would confront the two Indian vessels in the area, said the official, who declined to be named.

"The navy has already protested the incident and we will also make an official protest," said Hossain, who declined to confirm the number of vessels deployed.

Bangladesh had urged India to stop all activity in the area until it had been officially demarcated by a United Nations convention, he said.