18 Oct 2010

By-election casualties mount

3:46 pm on 18 October 2010

At least 25 people have been killed in the port city of Karachi, in Pakistan, in the run up to a by-election.

Voting is for a seat in the provincial assembly to replace Raza Haider, a member of the MQM party who was murdered on 2 August.

The killing triggered riots that killed at least 100 people.

More clashes broke out on Saturday despite tight security. The BBC reports gunfire was heard intermittently across the city.

ARY TV said at least four people had been killed on Sunday.

The MQM accused the Awami National Party of carrying out the attacks and killing some of its members.

The ANP has boycotted the polls over rigging fears. It denies the accusations.