ariel
08-06-2013, 12:37 PM
Gunmen have killed at least 13 bus passengers in the southwest of Pakistan, according to officials.
Provincial home secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani told AFP news agency that militants had blocked a road and held up a group of security personnel.
They then stopped at least two buses and took passengers away - the bodies of 13 people were later found nearby.
The assault reportedly targeted people from the Punjab province who were working in Balochistan.
It happened on Monday night in the Mach area, about 50km (31 miles) southeast of the provincial capital, Quetta.
Balochistan is plagued by both sectarian infighting between Sunnis and Shias and a rebellion by Baloch separatists, who want greater political autonomy and a share of natural resources.
Meerak Baloch, a spokesman for the separatist Baloch Liberation Army, told AFP that it claimed responsibility for the killings.
"These 13 people were either employees of the army or of other security institutions," he was reported as saying.
Radio Pakistan quoted Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari condemning the attack and ordering local authorities to take strict action.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23585205
Provincial home secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani told AFP news agency that militants had blocked a road and held up a group of security personnel.
They then stopped at least two buses and took passengers away - the bodies of 13 people were later found nearby.
The assault reportedly targeted people from the Punjab province who were working in Balochistan.
It happened on Monday night in the Mach area, about 50km (31 miles) southeast of the provincial capital, Quetta.
Balochistan is plagued by both sectarian infighting between Sunnis and Shias and a rebellion by Baloch separatists, who want greater political autonomy and a share of natural resources.
Meerak Baloch, a spokesman for the separatist Baloch Liberation Army, told AFP that it claimed responsibility for the killings.
"These 13 people were either employees of the army or of other security institutions," he was reported as saying.
Radio Pakistan quoted Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari condemning the attack and ordering local authorities to take strict action.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23585205