Mosque bomb blast kills at least 7

BHAKKAR, Pakistan, April 26 (UPI) -- A bomb exploded at a mosque in eastern Punjab province, killing at least seven women and children, sources said Friday.

Government officials said at least 20 people also were injured when the bomb exploded in the women's section of a religious ceremony at a Shia mosque on Thursday. Other reports put the death toll as high as 12.

Witnesses said thousands of people were attending the annual religious ceremony. The British Broadcasting Corp. reported Friday local police believe the attack was part of ongoing sectarian violence between the majority Sunni and minority Shia factions, which has claimed hundreds of lives.