NEW DELHI: Indian President Pratibha Patil left on Monday for Britain, where she will join Queen Elizabeth II to launch the Commonwealth Games torch relay ahead of the event in New Delhi next year. The Queen will hand the Commonwealth Games baton to Patil on Thursday before it travels through 70 countries and reaches the Indian capital when the games open on October 3.

Patil will also hold talks with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown,

officials said.