Hyderabad, Sep 18 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Saturday sought public cooperation in maintaining peace and communal harmony after an Uttar Pradesh court delivers its verdict on the Ayodhya dispute next week.

At a meeting with religious and political leaders at the state secretariat, the chief minister urged them to ensure that peace is maintained during Ganesh immersion procession Sep 22 and after the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court pronounces its verdict in Ayodhya's Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid row Sep 24.

"The chief minister appealed to all sides to help in maintaining law and order. Since it is a court order all should abide by it and if anyone has any reservation he may seek legal recourse," Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy told reporters after the meeting.

Leaders of the ruling Congress, main opposition Telugu Desam Party, the Praja Rajyam, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the Bharatiya Janata Party attended the meeting.

While thanking the people for their cooperation in maintaining peace during Ramadan, the meeting urged people to also ensure peace during Ganesh immersion.

Rosaiah Thursday reviewed the law and order situation with top officials and called an all-party meeting after a delegation of Muslim leaders urged him to take steps to protect the lives and property of Muslims in view of the alleged plans by some groups to create trouble following the high court verdict.

According to police sources, 40,000 policemen would be deployed to maintain law and order during the Ganesh immersion procession in Hyderabad. The deployment may continue till Sep 24 - when the verdict in the Ayodhya dispute is to be delivered.

Central security forces may also be deployed, said police sources.