South Asia News
LEAD: Bomb strikes Shiite procession in Pakistan, 14 killed
Jan 15, 2012, 11:14 GMT
Islamabad - At least 14 people were killed and 20 wounded on Sunday in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab when a bombing targeted a Shiite procession, government officials said.
The blast took place when about 300 people were gathered outside a Shiite mosque in Khanpur city to mark 40 days after the Ashura anniversary commemorating the slaying of Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein in 680 AD.
Mohammad Mushtaq, the top regional civilian administrator, said it was not clear if it was a suicide attack or a remote-controlled explosive device.
Jam Jamil, the medical officer at the city's main hospital said they had received 10 bodies, while there were reports that 14 people died while being moved to hospitals in the nearby city of Rahim Yarkhan. There was no immediate official confirmation of these deaths.
'More than 20 people are injured,' said Jamil.
Following the attack, angry Shiite Muslims took to the streets and got into a scuffle with police.
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