Pakistan's minorities minister shot dead

NEW DELHI. March 2. KAZINFORM The Pakistani minister for religious minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, was killed on Wednesday in a gun attack in Islamabad, DawnNews said, quoting police sources. Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

Two gunmen opened fire on the minister's car. Bhatti was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The killers managed to escape. The police are searching for them.

Pakistani experts believe that radical Islamists committed the crime.Bhatti, a Catholic, was known for protecting the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan.

Bhatti had been calling for changes in the country's strict blasphemy laws. The Pakistani political commentator Ayaz Muhammad said that radicals had already threatened Bhatti. Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru