Friday, November 4 2005 13:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Government has decided to go ahead with joint exercises planned between the Air Forces of India and US in West Bengal from November 7, despite Opposition from Left parties.

The decision comes after a late night meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) followed by a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee this morning and consultations held with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and central leaders of the CPI-M in Delhi.

Announcing the decision to go ahead with the exercises planned in Kalaikunda Air Base near Kolkata, Mukherjee told reporters today that 'everything has been sorted out'.