Pakistan prime minister to be escapes assassination

PAKISTAN has detained several people in the attempted assassination of the man selected to be the country's prime minister, a government minister said yesterday.

Others close to the investigation also said it was making progress, including a senior official who said the bomber's head had been discovered, along with what appears to be tatters of his clothing.

Shaukat Aziz, the finance minister tipped to take over as prime minister, escaped unharmed, but nine people were killed and three dozen wounded. Among the dead was Aziz's driver.