Six dead in Pakistan

Attackers armed with grenades targeted World Vision, a large Christian humanitarian group helping earthquake survivors in north-west Pakistan. All the victims were Pakistanis.

Extremists have killed other people working for foreign aid groups in Pakistan and issued statements saying such organisations were working against Islam, greatly hampering efforts to raise living standards in the desperately poor region.

Islamist militants see foreign aid groups and local bodies that receive international funds as a challenge to their authority.

The latest attack took place in Ogi, a small town in Mansehra district which was badly hit by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.

World Vision spokesman James East said: "We are deeply sorry we've lost staff members who were locals who were deeply committed to improving lives."

Two women were reported to be among the six dead.

Al Qaida, the Taliban and allied groups are strong in north-west Pakistan, but Mansehra is outside the tribal belt where the militants have their main bases.

Many foreign aid groups set up offices in Mansehra after the 2005 earthquake, which killed about 80,000 people.