Scores killed in sectarian violence in Pakistan [View All]

Fierce battles between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Pakistan's volatile northwest have left 91 people dead, officials said Sunday, despite the imposition of a state of emergency justified in part by the need to quell sectarian unrest.

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The military said Sunday it would send soldiers to control the outbreak of violence in Parachinar. In a statement, the military said 91 people, including 11 security personnel, had been killed over the weekend.

The violence began Friday when gunmen attacked a Sunni mosque. Sunni militiamen retaliated by attacking Shiites, the police said.

Separately on Sunday, a passenger train was attacked near Peshawar, the capital of North-West Frontier Province, killing one passenger and injuring three, The Associated Press reported, quoting a railway official.

The state of emergency remains a major embarrassment for the Bush administration, which has given more than $10 billion in aid to General Musharraf's government since 2001 and declared him a valued ally.

Ten days ago, President Bush personally telephoned Musharraf and asked him to end the state of emergency, with no result.

The Bush administration has also pushed for Musharraf, who is army chief as well as president, to resign from his military role. The general has said he will, but not until the Supreme Court certifies his re-election last month to a five-year term as president, which opposition groups say was illegal.


Sunni/Shia retaliations, I've think I've seen this movie.

more at link: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/18/asia/pakistan.php?page=1