Three Shia Muslims killed in southwest Pak

At least three Shia Muslims were killed and five others injured today when gunmen attacked a van on the outskirts of Quetta city in southwest Pakistan, three days after 29 members of the minority community were shot dead by militants in Balochistan province.

The van, going from Quetta to Bolan district, was stopped by the gunmen at Sibbi Road.

The gunmen ordered the passengers out of the vehicle and lined them up before firing indiscriminately, witnesses said.

The three persons who died were Shia Hazaras, they said. The five injured were taken to a nearby hospital.

Initial reports had said there were two separate attacks by gunmen at Quetta and Mach.

Witnesses later clarified that only the van had been attacked on the outskirts of Quetta.

Security forces cordoned off the site of the attack and launched a search operation.

The Tahaffuz-e-Azadari Council, a leading Shia organisation, called for six days of mourning.

This was the second attack on Shias in Balochistan province since Tuesday, when 29 members of the community were killed in two attacks by militants.

In the first attack, militants ordered passengers out of a bus and gunned down 26 people in Mastung district.

Three more men were killed in the second attack on the outskirts of Quetta.

The banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi had claimed responsibility for the attack on the bus.