BA stops Pakistan flights after bomb

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The Czech ambassador and at least three other foreigners were among those killed in Saturday night's blast at the Marriott Hotel, Islamabad's worst bomb attack, which wounded scores and which security officials said bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda.

There has been no claim of responsibility but the government said it expected the investigation would lead to al Qaeda and Taliban militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on the Afghan border.

The beleaguered Pakistani rupee sank to a new low, trading at 78.55 to the dollar on Monday compared with 78.15/25 at the close on Saturday.

The blast reinforced investors' negative attitudes after months of political uncertainty, a currency dealer said.

In a sign of growing international unease about deteriorating security in nuclear-armed Pakistan, British Airways said it had suspended its six flights a week to the country.

"Our people at headquarters are reviewing the security situation," said airline spokesman Sohail Rehman.

The bombing has also raised fresh calls for Pakistan's government to rethink its alliance with the United States and military operations against Islamist militants, which many Pakistanis blame for inciting violence.

Pakistan's army is in the midst of an offensive against militants in the Bajaur region on the Afghan border, while the United States has intensified attacks on militants on the Pakistani side of the border, infuriating the Pakistani army.

A security official said troops had fired at two U.S. helicopters that intruded into Pakistani air space on Sunday night, forcing them back to Afghanistan.

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