17 Killed in Pakistan Blast

Posted December 30th, 2012 at 2:00 am (UTC-5)
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Officials in southwestern Pakistan say a bomb blast has hit a convoy of buses, killing at least 17 Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims.

Authorities say at least 20 other people were wounded Sunday in the remotely-triggered explosion in Baluchistan province's Mastung district.

One bus was destroyed and another badly damaged.

Officials say the bus passengers were on a pilgrimage to Iran, a majority Shi'ite country and popular destination for religious pilgrims.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the blast.

Baluchistan is home to militant groups, including pro-Taliban factions, and Baluch separatists fighting a low-level insurgency in hopes of gaining political autonomy and a greater share of the profits from the region's natural resources.