2 Christians arrested in Pakistan

Police in Pakistan have arrested two Christians accused of blasphemy, a spokesperson said yesterday, two days after a Muslim mob burnt churches and houses in the minority's settlement, saying the two men had desecrated the holy Quran.

The accusations against the two Christians relates to pages of the holy Quran found with some derogatory remarks written in red, police said.

Paramilitary troops have been guarding the settlement in the eastern part of the country after the mob vandalised at least one main and four small churches and set scores of houses on fire.

A Christian graveyard was also desecrated, residents and the community leaders said.