Trans-Kashmir bus sets off on landmark trip

A bus garlanded with orange marigolds has set off from the capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir with passengers bound for the Pakistani side of the territory for first time in nearly 60 years.

The bus, launching a historic service linking the Himalayan region divided since 1947, was sent off by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Kashmir's main city Srinagar, bound for Muzaffarabad in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir.

"The caravan of peace has started," Mr Singh told thousands of Kashmiris who had gathered in a heavily guarded stadium in Srinagar in freezing rain today. "Nothing can stop it."