30 Apr 2009

Ethnic violence in Karachi

10:11 am on 30 April 2009

At least 20 people have been killed in ethnic violence in Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city. Dozens more were wounded.

Karachi has a history of ethnic, religious and sectarian violence. It has a population of 15 million.

The port city is dominated by Mohajirs, Urdu-speaking people who migrated from India after Pakistan was created in 1947. There is also a sizeable population of ethnic Pashtuns.

Police say fighting between the two groups erupted in different parts of the city after an unidentified man opened fire on a mohajir neighbourhood in the centre of the city.

A government minister said the killings were "targeted".