32 die in attack on Pakistan mosque

AN explosion yesterday shattered a Shiite Muslim mosque in Quetta, killing 32 worshippers on the Muslim sabbath, the Interior Ministry said. An additional 52 people were wounded, ministry spokesman Iftikar Ahmed said.

Angry Shiites rioted in the streets of this southwestern city, burning cars and tires. Some witnesses said the attack was carried out by two suicide bombers, while others said attackers threw grenades into the mosque, where an estimated 2,000 worshippers were gathered for prayers.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

It was the latest in several against Pakistan's Shiite Muslim minority, usually blamed on radical groups from the country's Sunni Muslim majority.

Gunfire could be heard as small mobs later gathered near the mosque and lit fires. Paramilitary rangers were deployed to restore order.

Police also imposed a curfew on Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province and a city of roughly 1.2 million people, about a third of whom are Shiites.

One man was in police custody in connection with the attack.

Ahmad Ali, who suffered shrapnel wounds in the explosion, said he saw two suicide bombers enter the mosque. "One of them was placing something that I guess was the bomb when he was seen by a security guard at the mosque. The guard killed him and the other one blew himself up," Ali said.

Other witnesses said grenades were thrown into the mosque.

President Pervez Musharraf vowed to "act very strongly" against those responsible for the attack.