A blast hit a rally promoting autonomy for Pakistan’s gas-rich Baluchistan province on Tuesday, wounding more than 20 people, while in the city of Peshawar shots were fired at US consulate staff.

Violent incidents have been increasing in nuclear-armed Pakistan in recent weeks, while its ruling politicians have been distracted by infighting.

US ally Pervez Musharraf’s resignation as President under threat of impeachment last week was followed by bickering in the ruling coalition and the departure of one of its main parties.

Allies and analysts fear the squabbling could keep the Government from dealing effectively with economic problems and violent Islamist militants, especially in northwestern areas on the Afghan border where militants have sanctuaries.

In Peshawar, gunmen fired four shots at a US consulate vehicle carrying three staff members on Tuesday, but there were no injuries, police said.

“Gunmen in a landcruiser opened fire at the car but no one was hurt,” said city police official Raziq Khan.

US embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said there was a “security incident” involving a US consulate vehicle and three employees. “There were no injuries and minimal damage to the vehicle,” Fintor said.

He declined to say who was in the vehicle, but police said one passenger was the consulate’s principal officer.

US diplomatic staff usually travel in armoured vehicles, but Fintor said he did not know if the vehicle attacked on Tuesday was armoured.

In Baluchistan, a photographer at the rally in the town of Dera Allah Yar, 300 km south of the Baluchistan capital Quetta, said he saw several bodies at the scene of the blast but police said there were no dead.

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