Suspected suicide blast in Pakistan kills 19

At least 19 people were killed and scores were wounded in a suspected suicide bombing at a Muslim shrine in the Pakistani capital yesterday, where thousands had gathered to pay homage to city's patron saint.

The blast occurred at the Bari Imam shrine, which is close to Islamabad's main government buildings and the diplomatic enclave, where many embassies and diplomatic residences are located.

"Our initial information suggests it was a suicide attack," Islamabad police chief Talat Mehmood Tariq said.

At least 19 people died and 65 were wounded, said Tariq Mehmood Pirzada, a senior city official.

The casualties included women and children.

Thousands of devotees from the majority Sunni Muslim and minority Shi'ite Muslim sects were attending a festival at the time of the explosion.

Another Shi'ite cleric, Syed Guftar Hussain Sadiqi, said the blast appeared to be the work of banned Sunni militant groups or "foreign elements".

President Pervez Musharraf said it remained unclear who was responsible, but it could have been sectarian extremists.

"If it is sectarian, then I am very saddened. Pakistan needs to show moderation according to Islam," Mr Musharraf, who was on a visit to Karachi, told reporters.

It was the latest incident of religious violence to rock the Pakistan, which has been a key ally in the US-led war on terror since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

The country has long been troubled by sectarian violence and over 100 people have died in attacks by Sunni and Shi'ite militants in the past year.

Most of the attacks have been attributed to Sunni militants with links to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.