17 die in school bus tragedy

LAHORE (AP):Sixteen schoolchildren and a teacher burned to death in eastern Pakistan early yesterday when a short-circuit near a leaking gas tank caused their minibus to be engulfed in flames, police said.

Police officer Ijaz Ahmad said five children were also injured, three of whom were listed in critical condition, in the blaze.

The children were aged between six and 12 years.

TV footage showed the charred minibus and victims of the relatives crying outside a hospital.

A schoolgirl told Pakistan's Geo news channel that the driver escaped when the vehicle went up in flames. Authorities said they were trying to track him down and arrest him.

Ahmad said the driver could have saved many lives.