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Gwadar bomb exploded by remote control: Pak Minister

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, May 3, IRNA -- A remote control was used in a car bomb near
a deep sea port in Pakistan southwestern Baluchistan`s province which 
killed three Chinese engineers and injured eleven other people, 
including nine Chinese nationals, a minister said on Monday. 
The Chinese engineers were working on the Gwadar port, about 500 
kilometers west of Karachi, close to the border with Iran. 
"The police have found parts of cylinders and fuse, which indicate
that the bomb was exploded through remote control. Further 
investigations are going on," Communication Minister Senator Babar 
Ghori told a news conference in Islamabad. 
A Pakistani driver and gunman were also injured in the attack 
which occurred around 8.30 a.m local time, police chief Gwadar Sattar 
Lasi said. 
He said a small Suzuki car was used in the attack. 
Those seriously injured were shifted to the port city of Karachi 
by a Pakistan International flight. Other injured were also shifted to
Karachi in a navy air craft. 
Ghori visited the Chinese ambassador in Islamabad and conveyed to 
him condolences on behalf of the government and the people of Pakistan
over the incident. 
"The Chinese ambassador assured me that the project will continue 
and the incident will have no impact on it," the minister said. He 
said that the affected Chinese would be given compensations under the 
laws. 
"Those who have carried out the attack are the enemy of Pakistan,"
Ghori said. 
The minister said `anti-Pakistani` elements are behind the attack 
adding the blast is the handiwork of those who do not want development
of Baluchistan. 
The minister did not blame any one for the blast and said the 
investigations are underway. 
He added that an international investment conference will be held 
in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan as per schedule next week as the
incident will have no impact. 
The minister said that those found responsible for security lapse 
would be punished, adding that employees working on the project had 
never received any threat. 
Secretary Ministry of Communication Iftikhar Rashid did not agree 
with the notion that `security lapse` has led to the incident, saying 
that men of several security agencies are responsible for the security
of the project. 
"The security will be enhancing further after the blast," he 
added. 
He said the project will be completed in December this year ahead 
of its schedule time of April 2005. 
A total of 300 Chinese are working on the project, which will 
cost 248 million dollars. China has given 198 million dollars of loan 
and grants while Pakistan`s share stands at 50 million dollars. 
TK/TSH/AH/210