Pakistan hangs 'Islamic militant'

A convicted Islamic militant in Pakistan has been executed by hanging after President Pervez Musharraf rejected his mercy plea.

The Sunni Muslim man, Hafiz Shafiur Rahman of the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group, had been sentenced for killing a Shia Muslim politician 10 years ago.

The Pakistani authorities say that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is linked to the al-Qaeda network.

They accuse it of being responsible for the killings of hundreds of Shias.