Pakistani police say a car bomb exploded outside an American fast food chain restaurant in Karachi early Tuesday, killing at least two people and injuring many more.
Earlier, police reported six people were killed in the blast that set fire to the (KFC) restaurant and several vehicles parked nearby. Windows of a number of nearby buildings were shattered.
Police quickly sealed off the area, where two hotels popular with foreign tourists and business people (Sheraton and Pearl Intercontinental) are located.
The blast occurred as commuters were heading to offices and shops in the busy downtown section of Karachi -- Pakistan's largest city. It has been the site of several bomb blasts and other attacks in the past. Most attacks were blamed on Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaida.
On Sunday, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf told a U.S. television network (CNN) his government has crushed the backbone of terrorist groups. He said it was highly unlikely the country would have to deal with a major terrorist attack.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters, AP, AFP.