AFP - The trial of the only Islamist militant suspect captured during November's Mumbai attacks in India was adjourned on Wednesday after his lawyer was banned from representing him, the judge said.

There could be a conflict of interest as the defence lawyer for Mohammed Ajmal Kasab may have links to a potential witness for the prosecution, the judge said.

"It does not appear appropriate," judge M.L. Tahaliyani said, adjourning the proceedings.

The 21-year-old Kasab, said to belong to the banned Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, faces a string of charges including "waging war" on India, murder, attempted murder and kidnapping.

He faces the death penalty if convicted of involvement in the November 2008 attack on India's financial capital, which saw 10 gunmen kill more than 160 people and injure over 300 others.

The brief court session Wednesday saw Kasab make his first public appearence since his arrest.

He appeared unable to follow the proceedings, which were conducted in English and Hindi, an AFP reporter in the courtroom said.