Three die in Taxila terror attack

Three Pakistani nurses were killed and 26 other people were wounded in a terrorist grenade attack on a Christian hospital chapel at Taxila, an ancient Buddhist town 25km west of Islamabad, police and administration officials said.

One of the three assailants was also killed in the attack, the second in five days against Christians and Western interests in the country, Taxila police said.

The attackers burst into the compound of the missionary hospital and detonated a grenade around 8:00am.

Police said a hunt was under way to track down the two assailants who fled the scene. Slomy Cissel, 28, a local Christian was among those stepping out of the chapel after morning prayers.

"We saw these people coming towards the church... when they saw us women coming out they threw grenades at us," Cissel said as she was treated for shrapnel wounds.

She described the attackers as "young and smart looking". All three were shaven and dressed in shalwar kameez, the long tunics worn by Pakistani men.

The chapel was unguarded, as the policeman supposed to be on duty was delayed by rain. Two attackers escaped, leaving behind their fallen accomplice.

District administrator Tariq Kiyani said 11 injured people were discharged after first aid and 13 seriously wounded were admitted to hospital.

Information Minister Nisar Memon said it was a "terrorist attack" involving enemies of the country who wanted to create unrest and instability.

Memon vowed that the "sinister act" would not weaken the government's resolve and ongoing campaign to root out terrorism.

He said the attackers' attempt to derive a wedge between the Muslim and Christian communities in the country would fail.

"No religion allows killing of innocent people, especially women engaged in humanitarian service," the minister said. "The culprits would not escape punishment".

Memon said Pakistan had been subjected to a string of terrorist attacks since it joined the international coalition against terrorism last year. But the country would continue to play its role in the war against terror, he said.

The missionary-run Christian Hospital has been providing general medical services and specialist eye treatment for more than 50 years.

Hospital administrator Clement Bakhshi said that except for a Swedish nurse who was on leave, there were no foreign patients or staff.

"I'm sure this is a sign of ongoing violence against Christians," he said.

On Monday, six Pakistanis were killed when three gunmen stormed a Christian school for foreigners and locals at the summer resort of Murree near Islamabad.

The gunmen involved in that attack later blew themselves up with grenades scores of miles away from Murree.