Six rockets were launched in a co-ordinated attack on United States and United Nations premises in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad yesterday. Only one person was reported to have been injured in the explosions, which occurred within minutes of each other shortly before midday.
A rocket launcher was found inside a car which had blown up and caught fire outside the American Centre. An improvised two-barrelled rocket launcher is reported to have been fitted inside a jeep which caught fire near the Saudi-Pak Tower, which houses the UN offices.
An explosion also occurred near the heavily fortified American embassy. A rocket, which did not explode, is said to have been fired at a UN World Food Programme car.
Another missile is said to have exploded when it hit hills outside the urban area. A guard outside the American Centre was admitted to hospital with minor shrapnel injuries.
A senior Islamabad district officer said that six rockets were believed to have been fired from vehicles in three different locations within a few minutes of each other, but police said only four of the rockets could be accounted for.
"We have no suspects so far," said the police officer, who asked not to be identified. "It appears the rockets were aimed at the US and UN offices but they were off target."
The vehicles from which the rockets were fired all caught fire, leading to confusion about the number and nature of the blasts. It was initially thought some of the explosions might have been caused by car bombs.
"However, we've advised our staff to be vigilant and not to go out unnecessarily," said the British High Commission spokesman. "At the moment we're being cautious."
No group had by yesterday evening (7 p.m. local time in Pakistan) claimed responsibility for the attacks, the first political violence since the government of Mr Nawaz Sharif was ousted in a military coup on October 12th. The deposed prime minister was charged last Thursday with attempted murder, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy - crimes which carry the death penalty.
Most analysts, however, are linking the explosions with the weekend deadline for the imposition of UN sanctions on Afghanistan. The sanctions are due to be imposed on the country's ruling Taleban movement because of its refusal to hand over Saudi militant Osama bin Laden.
Afghanistan's Taleban regime has many supporters in Pakistan, in the military and in the secret services as well as in the general population.
There are many Islamic militants based in Pakistan, some of them Afghan refugees, who have fought or continue to fight inside Afghanistan, which is riven by civil war.
At least three people were wounded when a bomb went off in a car belonging to a senior official of the ruling Taleban movement in the Afghan capital Kabul yesterday.
Party supporters of the deposed Pakistani premier, Mr Nawaz Sharif, yesterday launched a legal battle to defend their leader against accusations that he had plotted to kill the country's military ruler.
Mr Sharif (50), ousted in a coup last month, has been accused of conspiring to kill Gen Pervez Musharraf.
"Mr Sharif is innocent and the case is a bundle of contradictions, so we have decided to launch a legal battle to defend him," said Mr Iqbal Radh, a member of the legal team at Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party.
The former premier is also being investigated for kidnapping and attempting to hijack a plane. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
Mr Sharif was accused of trying to prevent a commercial jet carrying the returning general and 198 passengers from landing at Karachi airport.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's suspension from the Commonwealth was confirmed yesterday in Durban, South Africa, on the first day of a summit of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The 54-member organisation also named New Zealand Foreign Minister , Mr Don McKinnon (60), as its new Secretary General after his unanimous election by heads of government, succeeding Nigeria's Mr Emeka Anyaoku.
Mr McKinnon lost no time in confirming the organisation was suspending the membership of Pakistan, following the military coup which overthrew Prime Minister Nawar Sharif.
Mr McKinnon said, however, that the Commonwealth would maintain the "technical co-operation" necessary to bring the country back into the democratic fold.