Gunmen seize British aid worker

Khalil Dale, a health worker for the Red Cross, was seized near the Pakistani city of Quetta

Police in Pakistan were last night hunting for a British aid worker who was abducted by armed gunmen in the south-western city of Quetta.

Khalil Dale, a health programme manager with the International Committee of the Red Cross, was seized on his way home in a marked ICRC vehicle yesterday lunchtime, just 200 metres from the residential complex where he was staying.

The ICRC said it had no information about the identity of the gunmen or their motive.

"We are trying to find out any details that might help in this situation,"charity spokesman Sitara Jabeen said. A statement added: "Despite the incident, the ICRC will be continuing its humanitarian work in Pakistan."

Quetta is the largest town in Balochistan province, a region that has long suffered from violence sparked by a separatist movement and the subsequent actions by security forces. It is also known as the home of the Quetta Shura, the Taliban's leadership council. Nazir Kurd, a senior police official in Quetta, told the Associated Press that Mr Dale was abducted by "unknown gunmen riding in a Land Cruiser" following a visit to a local school. Another officer said Mr Dale had been travelling with a Pakistani doctor and driver who were not seized.