NEW DELHI, Dec. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indian Parliament resumed functioning here on Friday afternoon, after it was disrupted early in the day following threats of bomb scare.

    Home Minister Shivraj Patil told reporters that security forces ha d not found any bomb on the premises and everything was clear.

Indian policemen guard outside the parliament in New Delhi Dec. 16. (Xinhua)

    Later, he told the Indian Parliament, when the session resumed for the day at 3 p.m., that the American Consulate in Chennai had received an e-mail saying some unidentified baggage in the Parliament premises could trigger off a bomb. They informed the Tamil Nadu police and the message was also passed on to New Delhi,the Home Minister said.

    The premises was vacated immediately and the Prime Minister, vice-president and Members of Parliament were moved out.

    The security forces cordoned off the area and bomb detection squads and sniffer dogs searched the premises for any suspicious material. After two rounds of intense search, security forces gave an all-clear message.

    Speaking to New Delhi Television (NDTV) India, after the threat, American Embassy Press secretary David said that they would cooperate fully with the Indian government on issues related to government security. However, he refused to discuss the issue in detail in public.

    The Indian parliament had suffered an attack on Dec. 13, 2001.     

    The Home Minister said they would do more to make Parliament more safe. Enditem

A group of policemen guard outside Indian parliament in New Delhi Dec. 16. (Xinhua)

Indian policemen guard outside the parliament in New Delhi Dec. 16. (Xinhua)

A group of policemen guard outside Indian parliament in New Delhi Dec. 16. (Xinhua)