Pakistani gunmen kill Christian politician

Shahbaz Bhatti was aware of the danger he faced: He left a videotaped message saying he had received death threats from al-Qaida and the Taliban. In it, the 42-year-old Roman Catholic said he was "ready to die" for the country's often persecuted Christian and other non-Muslim minorities.
The slaying in Islamabad followed the killing of Salman Taseer, a liberal politician who was gunned down by one of his guards. Both men had campaigned to change the blasphemy laws in Pakistan that have been loudly defended by Islamist political parties.
Guards were assigned to Bhatti, but he did not take them to his mother's home. A friend, Wasif Ali Khan, said Bhatti was nervous about the guards after the Taseer killing and requested a bulletproof car, but had not received one.
In leaflets left at the scene, al-Qaida and the Pakistani Taliban Movement in Punjab province said they were responsible. Government officials condemned the killing, but made no reference to the blasphemy law controversy.
In several cities, Christians took to the streets Wednesday to protest and to mourn their most prominent advocate.