Rally condemns Pakistan killing

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An alliance of opposition parties in Pakistan has held a big rally in the Balochistan provincial capital, Quetta.

The protesters were demanding an investigation into the death of tribal leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, who was killed last month by security forces.

The rally was held at a football stadium with a capacity of up to 20,000 people and was nearly full.

Participants shouted slogans against the government, and opposition leaders condemned Mr Bugti's killing.

They also condemned the circumstances of his burial, alleging that the body was not shown to the relatives and his coffin was locked.

A short distance from the rally a bomb went off injuring at least five people. But the BBC's Azizullah Khan - who attended the funeral - said that the incident did not affect the crowds at the stadium, who stayed until late in the evening.

Our correspondent says a wide cross-section of political leaders attended the funeral, but leaders of the main Islamic alliance, the MMA, were not invited.

An MMA official said they were asked not to attend because this could create problems as the party is part of the provincial government in Balochistan.

Balochistan is rich in gas, gold and mineral reserves, but it is the least developed province in the country.

Balochi nationalists want the central government to grant the province more autonomy and give it a greater share in riches generated from its natural resources.