Christian minister killed in Pakistan

The only Christian in the Pakistani cabinet has been assassinated in the capital Islamabad.

Minister for Minorities Shahbaz Bhatti, who has been calling for changes to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law, was killed in an early morning drive-by shooting.

Although police have not yet confirmed whether Mr Bhatti was the intended target, local television channels are showing images of his pock-marked car with blood on its rear seat.

This latest incident comes after the governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, who had also strongly opposed the law, was gunned down by one of his bodyguards in January.

The law states that anyone who criticises Islam and the Prophet Mohammad should face the death penalty, but opponents argue that it discriminates against minority groups.