20 killed in bomb blast at Muslim shrine

AN apparent suicide bomb detonated yesterday as hundreds of Shi'ite Muslims recited verses from the Koran during a religious festival at a shrine near Pakistan's capital.

At least 20 people were killed in the blast, and dozens were wounded, witnesses said.

After the blast, hundreds of Shi'ite pilgrims, beating their chests in mourning, clashed with baton-wielding police, who charged the crowd to clear the way for ambulances. Some of the Shi'ite protesters chanted, "Down with America!"