Pakistan: 18 hurt in mosque shooting

A shoot-out inside a mosque in south-western Pakistan wounded 18 people today during one of Islam’s most important holidays.

The clash came after a dispute over which of two rival clerics should lead prayers.

Police official Javed Ahmed said followers of the two local religious leaders pulled out weapons and started shooting at a mosque in Khuzdar district of Baluchistan province.

The region’s ethnic Pashtuns typically carry rifles in daily life.

Muslims are celebrating Eid al-Adha, of the Feast of the Sacrifice. The three-day holiday, which started in Pakistan today, involves slaughter of sheep and cattle in remembrance of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son.