4 Sharif supporters killed in shooting near Islamabad

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least four supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif were killed Thursday when unidentified gunmen fired at his party's procession in the outskirts of Islamabad, local press reports said.

Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), was due to address election rallies in the eastern Pakistani city of Rawalpindi, some 30 kms south from Islamabad.

A procession was taken out to welcome Sharif when unidentified gunmen opened fire from a house at Karal Chowk on the main Islamabad airport road, the PML-N said.

Around 16 other supporters were also injured in the attack. Seven are listed as critical condition, the PML-N was cited as saying.

According to reports from local media, Sharif blamed supporters of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q) for the violence at Karal Chowk of Rawalpindi.

"Some Q League workers fired at our people," Sharif said, referring to the PML-Q which supports President Pervez Musharraf.

"We have reports that several people were wounded," he was cited as saying.

No response from the government is available so far.