Taliban claim bombing in Karachi

Pakistan's Taliban have said they carried out the suicide bombing which killed 43 people in the commercial capital, Karachi, on Monday.

A spokesman threatened to carry out more such attacks in the coming days.

Meanwhile, firefighters are still trying to douse flames following rioting after the attack on a Shia Muslim march.

Dozens of people were injured in the bomb, which struck as Shias marked the climax of the holy month of Muharram.

After the explosion, marchers turned their anger on ambulance workers, security forces and journalists.

'Our man'

"We carried out the suicide bombing in Karachi," the AFP news agency quoted Asmatullah Shaheen, one of the commanders of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as saying.

"He [the bomber] was our man. His name was Hasnain Muawia and we did it to protect the honour of the companions of the holy prophet," said Mr Shaheen whose name is on a government list of 20 most-wanted militants.

"We will carry out more such attacks and also target government installations," he said.

Meanwhile, fire tenders in Karachi were still struggling to control the fires that erupted following Monday's attack, officials said.

Arsonists set on fire nearly 2,000 shops and warehouses between Light House and Boulton Market in central Karachi.

The area houses Pakistan's largest wholesale markets that supply goods all over the country.

Traders said hundreds of shops were gutted in fire and that they had lost merchandise worth more than $350m. It is estimated that thousands of people have been rendered jobless.

City fire chief Ehtisham Qadri told the BBC Urdu service that the fire was still not doused and that a dozen fire engines were working the narrow lanes of markets in the old city area.

"There are no leaping flames on the skyline, but it's far from over. It's not safe yet," Mr Qadri said.

"I cannot give a time frame to bring it under control, because the area is very congested and heavily built, with narrow lanes and small shops which retard our progress."

Pakistan has seen an upsurge in violence in recent months.

Hundreds of civilians have died in bomb attacks as Pakistan's army concludes an offensive against Taliban militants in South Waziristan and surrounding areas.