Gunbattle at Pakistan Political Rally

A gunbattle erupted at a political rally near Islamabad today between supporters of President Pervez Musharraf and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, leaving four dead and three wounded. The shooting was the worst violence so far in the run-up to January's parliamentary election. Sharif was only a mile away when pro-government supporters opened fire as supporters waited to hear him speak.

All of the casualties are from the opposition Muslim League. Sharif lashed out at the government after the attack, accusing it of intentionally failing to provide adequate security for his supporters. A spokesman for the ruling party, while condemning the attack, accused Sharif's side of starting the violence. (More Pakistan stories.)