May 22, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 19,1424

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MUMBAI, May 21: The Indian and Russian navies will hold joint exercises this week, the first in 10 years, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

They will take place on Thursday and Friday off the western coast of India near Mumbai and include seamanship, gunnery, air defence, anti-submarine and communications exercises, a statement said.

The Russian fleet consists of the missile cruiser Moskva, missile destroyers Marshal Shaposhnikov and Admiral Panteleyev and another warship, the Vladimir Kolchitsky.

From the Indian side, the aircraft carrier Viraat, missile destroyers Bombay and Mysore, guided missile frigate Brahamputra, and submarine Sindhuratna will take part.—AFP