Four leaders of the Pakistan-based militant group suspected of being behind the attack on Mumbai last month have been placed on a UN Security Council terrorist blacklist. They include the alleged mastermind of the terror strike, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, a Pakistan national.

The UN move represents a fillip for India, which has demanded that Pakistan do more to curb the terrorists who operate from its territory. Relations between the two nuclear armed neighbours have deteriorated sharply in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

The UN move means that the four members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a notoriously brutal militant faction, will have their bank accounts frozen and face travel bans, among other sanctions.

The sanctions also covered Jamaat-ud-Dawa, most usually identified as the charity arm of LeT.

The militants added to the UN blacklist include Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who founded LeT and now heads JuD.

Mumbai police have alleged that Mr Saeed met the terrorists who carried out last months attack before they sailed from Karachi for Mumbai. The allegation is based on the testimony of the sole gunman taken alive.

The others are Pakistan-born Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who Indian police allege masterminded the Mumbai attack and who has been arrested in Pakistan, according to the authorities there.

Haji Muhammad Ashraf and Mahmoud Mohammad Ahmed Bahaziq, both suspected of roles in financing LeT were also placed on the UN blacklist.

The same four were named under US Treasury Department sanctions in May.

The news came as India waited to see whether Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the sole Mumbai gunman to be taken would appear in court after an initial 14-day limit for his detention by police expired. It appeared likely, however, that a magistrate would instead travel to the secret location where he is being kept to extend the time the security services can interrogate him without charge.

Meanwhile, India's recently appointed Home Minister announced a massive overhaul of the country's security and intelligence agencies, which have been widely criticised for their lax handling of the Mumbai attacks.

The measures included setting up 20 counter-insurgency and anti-terror schools for training commandos.

Palaniappan Chidambaram had earlier admitted "lapses" on the part of India's authorities.

The minister, whose predecessor resigned after the Mumbai attacks, also underscored Pakistan's alleged role. In an address to the Indian parliament he said: "the finger of suspicion unmistakeably points to the territory of our neighbour Pakistan."

"We cannot go back to business as usual," Mr Chidambaram said.

"Several terrorist organisations operating from territories beyond India's borders have been identified as the source of attacks against India that have been perpetrated over the last number of years."

Gunman stays in custody

The sole gunman to be taken alive during the attacks on Mumbai was today remanded in police custody for a further two weeks, according to officials. Mohammad Ajmal Kasab did not appear in court, however, because of security concerns.

Court officials were seen visiting the Mumbai police headquarters shortly before midday. They left around 15 minutes later.

Police said that he faces a string of charges including "making war against the country, murder, attempted murder and other charges under the arms and explosives act."

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