Pakistan arrests 'militants' after Karachi violence kills 40

KARACHI (AFP) - Police in Karachi have arrested four suspected militants whom they said were planning a wave of sectarian attacks in the city, following a bloody three days in which around 40 people were killed.

Pakistan's largest city is in the grip of political and sectarian violence between majority Sunni Muslims and minority Shiites, and the arrests come just days before the start of the holy month of Muharram.

Mr Mohammad Aslam Khan, the head of the police anti-extremism cell in southern Sindh province, said the four were members of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a banned Sunni militant group blamed for many deadly attacks on Shiites.

He said the men were planning strikes during Muharram, when Shiites hold public processions, and police had seized at least 25 kg of explosives, along with grenades, automatic rifles and pistols.