A fresh round of Hindu-Muslim violence in India's western Gujarat state has killed at least 11 people, including a policeman who was hacked to death. 

Sunday's religious riots were the worst in Gujarat in a month. 

At least 56 people were wounded since the violence exploded late Saturday and lasted into Sunday before a relative calm was restored. 

Hindu and Muslim mobs threw gasoline bombs and rocks at each other. Several houses and stores were set on fire. 

Police opened fire on mobs in several cities, killing seven people. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, promised to punish the perpetrators regardless of their religion. 

He said the world has great expectations of India and promised there will be no religious discrimination in the country. 

The violence in Gujarat stems from a dispute between Muslim and Hindus over a religious site in Ayodhya. Authorities say they are unsure what caused the latest surge of violence, but believe it was the result of rumors of anti-Muslim and anti-Hindu attacks. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP.

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