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Pakistan PM's motorcade attacked Pakistan PM's motorcade attacked
(about 1 hour later)
Shots have been fired at the motorcade of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, although it is not clear if he was in the convoy at the time.Shots have been fired at the motorcade of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, although it is not clear if he was in the convoy at the time.
Two bullets from an unidentified gunman hit the PM's car as he was travelling from Islamabad airport into the city, his press secretary told the BBC. Interior ministry officials said the car was on its way to collect Mr Gilani from Islamabad's airport.
But security officials say the car was on its way to collect Mr Gilani. Earlier, his press secretary told the BBC that unidentified gunman fired on Mr Gilani's car as he was travelling from the airport into the city.
Mr Gilani's government is grappling with a growing threat from militants in the country. It is not clear who carried out the attack but an inquiry is under way.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says it is not clear who fired the shots but Islamist militants based in Pakistan's border regions have threatened to kill various government ministers, and have carried out deadly suicide bombings against army and government targets. Mr Gilani's government is grappling with a growing threat from Islamist militants.
This is a cowardly act... We have been aware of the threats against [Mr Gilani] and our security is always tight Interior Minister Rehman Malik
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says militants based in Pakistan's border regions have threatened to kill various government ministers, and have carried out deadly suicide bombings against army and government targets.
The incident represents a major lapse in security. In December former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed at an election rally in Rawalpindi.The incident represents a major lapse in security. In December former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed at an election rally in Rawalpindi.
Shattered glass Coalition wrangling
"I can confirm the prime minister's convoy was fired upon while returning from [Islamabad] airport," his press secretary Zahid Bashir told the BBC. Two bullets hit the window of the armoured vehicle on the driver's side but did not penetrate the glass and no-one was injured.
Two bullets struck the window of one of the front doors "I spoke to the prime minister, and by the grace of God, he is safe and sound," Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said.
"The prime minister was coming back from Lahore. The firing took place on the Islamabad highway. At this point, we believe the firing was from a small hill on the roadside." "This is a cowardly act... We have been aware of the threats against his person and our security is always tight," he said, but gave no details of whether Mr Gilani was in the car at the time of the attack.
A statement issued by the prime minister's office said: "Of the multiple sniper shots fired on the prime minister's vehicle, two hit the window on the driver's side. Earlier the press secretary, Zahid Bashir, told the BBC: "The prime minister was coming back from Lahore. The firing took place on the Islamabad highway. At this point, we believe the firing was from a small hill on the roadside."
"However, because of the robust and comprehensive security measures, the prime minister and all the members of his motorcade remained unharmed." Officials say another car in the convoy was also hit by several bullets. There were no reports of injuries.
Television pictures showed the shattered glass of the driver's door. An apparent assassination attempt so close to the capital has alarmed the government, which has launched a high-level inquiry, our correspondent says.
Officials say another car in the convoy was also hit by several bullets. There are no reports of injuries. She says suspicion could fall on the Pakistani Taleban, who may have tried to take revenge for a recent army offensive that killed hundreds of militants.
However, there was confusion when the interior ministry gave a different account of the incident, saying that Mr Gilani was not in the car at the time of the attack. Another likely suspect is al-Qaeda, the group blamed for assassinating Ms Bhutto, who led the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) to which Mr Gilani belongs, our correspondent says.
The government information minister, Sherry Rehman, supported that account: "The convoy was going to receive the prime minister," she told state TV. "Those who had designs, have failed." Mr Gilani became prime minister after February's elections
Mr Gilani had been in Lahore to canvass support for Asif Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower, ahead of presidential elections on Saturday.Mr Gilani had been in Lahore to canvass support for Asif Zardari, Ms Bhutto's widower, ahead of presidential elections on Saturday.
Ms Bhutto had been favourite to win Pakistan's general elections and become prime minister for a third time before she was killed on 27 December. The elections were subsequently postponed until February.Ms Bhutto had been favourite to win Pakistan's general elections and become prime minister for a third time before she was killed on 27 December. The elections were subsequently postponed until February.
Her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) emerged as the winners and formed a coalition with the PML-N party of another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. Mr Gilani, himself a senior PPP member, became prime minister Her PPP emerged as the winners and formed a coalition with the PML-N party of another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.
The coalition broke up amid political acrimony late last month.The coalition broke up amid political acrimony late last month.
The PPP and the PML-N spent much of their time since February arguing over issues such as the power of the presidency and the reinstatement of judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf.
During that time the economy has taken a further battering, with the Pakistani rupee falling to an all-time low, while food and fuel prices have risen sharply.
ConfidentConfident
One of the biggest challenges facing Mr Gilani's government comes from Islamist militants who control large areas along the border with Afghanistan. The recent army operation against Islamist militants has been in the district of Bajaur and is estimated to have displaced up to 300,000 local people.
Mr Gilani became prime minister after February's elections This week the government said the operation would be suspended during the holy month of Ramadan.
The army has been engaged in a major operation in recent weeks in the district of Bajaur which is estimated to have displaced up to 300,000 local people.
This week the government said the Bajaur operation would be suspended during the holy month of Ramadan.
Last year militants grew increasingly confident and carried out a series of attacks in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the country's main garrison town.Last year militants grew increasingly confident and carried out a series of attacks in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the country's main garrison town.
And last month a double suicide attack at a munitions factory in the town of Wah in Punjab province left nearly 70 people dead.And last month a double suicide attack at a munitions factory in the town of Wah in Punjab province left nearly 70 people dead.
The loose alliance of militants that calls itself the Pakistan Taleban claimed responsibility for the Wah incident, the heaviest attack on a military installation by a militant group in the country's history.The loose alliance of militants that calls itself the Pakistan Taleban claimed responsibility for the Wah incident, the heaviest attack on a military installation by a militant group in the country's history.
Mr Gilani's PPP and Mr Sharif's PML-N have spent much of their time since February arguing over issues such as the power of the presidency and the reinstatement of judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf.
During that time the economy has taken a further battering, with the Pakistani rupee falling to an all-time low, while food and fuel prices have risen sharply.