Violence erupts in Pak over Bugti killing  [ 29 Aug, 2006 1406hrs IST AFP ]
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QUETTA,
Pakistan: An angry mob set ablaze two buildings and exploded four home-made
bombs on Tuesday after funeral prayers for a rebel tribal chief killed in a
military operation, police and witnesses said.
Police fired into the air to
disperse the mob which started rampaging through the streets after attending
prayers for Nawab Akbar Bugti in the capital of the southwestern province of
Baluchistan, police official Abdul Khan said.
The bombs exploded in shops
near the venue of the prayers but there were no casualties, Khan said.
The mob torched a local bank
and also set on fire a district government building, a reporter at the scene
said.
Thick black smoke was
billowing from the government building. Police fired tear gas shells and
resorted to aerial firing, but there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Paramilitary troops have been
brought in to bring the situation under control, a police officer said.
Thousands of people attended
the funeral prayers held at a local sports stadium. The killing of Bugti in a
military operation on Saturday set off two days of violent riots in Baluchistan
leaving three people dead.
The
city was tense earlier Tuesday and shops were closed in mourning. Traffic was
thin as police and paramilitary soldiers patrolled main roads and security was
beefed up at government installations.
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