India tests short-range ballistic missile Published duration 22 December 2010

image caption The missile has a range of several hundred kilometres

India has successfully tested a short-range ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, defence officials say.

The Prithvi-II missile was launched from Chandipur in the eastern state of Orissa into the Bay of Bengal at 0815 (0245 GMT), reports said.

On Tuesday, Pakistan tested the medium-range Ghauri Hatf 5 missile.

India and Pakistan routinely carry out missile tests, and normally notify each other in advance.

The 9m (29-ft) surface-to-surface Prithvi missile has a range of up to 217 miles (350km) and has already been approved by the Indian armed forces, officials said.