Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Attackers Burn 11 Pakistan Schools to Ground

by Associated Press

   PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN --

   A Pakistani police officer and residents say assailants in apparently
   coordinated attacks burned down 11 schools for boys and girls in the
   country's north before fleeing.

   Local police officer Mohammad Bashir says the attacks on the schools
   took place before dawn Friday near the northern town of Chilas in the
   Gilgit Baltistan region, but there were no casualties as the schools
   were closed at the time.

   No group claimed responsibility for setting fire to schools in various
   villages nearby but previous such incidents have been blamed on local
   militants.

   Chilas police chief Ajmal Khan says officers have opened investigations
   to determine who was behind the incident, which spread panic among
   residents there.