British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the site of a colonial-era massacre in India on Wednesday, describing the episode as "deeply shameful" while stopping short of a public apology. On the last leg of a three-day trip aimed at forging deeper economic ties, Cameron took the bold decision to visit the city of Amritsar and tackle an enduring scar of British rule over the subcontinent, which ended in 1947.

* Cameron makes historic visit to Amritsar * British PM expresses regret for massacre * Stops short of making an apology * Gesture seen aimed at improving Anglo-Indian ties (Adds link to video) By Andrew Osborn AMRITSAR, India, Feb 20 (Reuters) - David Cameron on Wednesday became the first serving British prime minister to voice regret about one of the bloodiest episodes in colonial India, a massacre of unarmed civilians in the city of Amritsar in 1919.

Prime Minister David Cameron was due to visit the scene of a colonial-era massacre Wednesday, reportedly to express regret for the gunning down of hundreds of unarmed Indian protesters by British troops in 1919. He is on the last leg of a three-day trip aimed at forging deeper economic ties during which he has argued for a closer partnership between Britain and its former colony based on their shared history and common democratic values.