THE WEB PAGES FROM AUSTRALIA AOL SITES

Sectarian violence leaves 9 dead in Pakistan

January 10, 2009, 04:43 PM Post Comments
| More

Police say at least nine people have been killed in clashes between supporters from two rival Muslim sects in northwestern Pakistan.

Police official Zarin Khan says more than a dozen other people were injured in the multiple shootings in Hangu district. The district has been the scene of sectarian violence in the past.

Khan says the latest unrest erupted Friday and continued Saturday.

Khan didn't say what sparked the violence but said authorities were trying to restore order.

Most of Pakistan's majority Sunni and minority Shiites live peacefully, but extremists on both sides often target each other's leaders.

The Sunni-Shiite schism over the true heir to Islam's Prophet Muhammad dates back to the seventh century.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

In the News...

Loading comments service...

Latest Galleries on AOL

Heat Wave: With temperatures in Sydney and nearby areas hitting about 40 degrees, people are heading for beaches