Thousands riot after gunmen kill senior Pakistani cleric

GUNMEN killed a senior pro-Taliban cleric yesterday, sparking riots across the southern Pakistani city of Karachi by thousands of his Sunni Muslim supporters.

At least three policemen and four protesters were injured in gunfire exchanges following the death of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, police said. Angry crowds shouted slogans against Shi'ite Muslims, raising fears of sectarian unrest and ransacked shops, banks and a police station.

The riots started after attackers in two cars and a motorcycle shot the fervent critic of the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.