Officials say a major earthquake of 6.8 magnitude or larger has hit southwest Pakistan, less than a week after a massive quake in the same region killed at least 359 people.

Gunmen kidnapped an American UN official and killed his driver in southwest Pakistan today, underscoring the security threat in a country wracked by al-Qaida violence and rising criminalit

Officials have said a 5.1-magnitude quake has rattled parts of southwest Pakistan.