31.   Meanwhile nine vehicles were torched in Vitrolles on Tuesday in what appeared to be a protest against racist remarks by the National Front mayor Catherine Megret.

32.   Militants rampaged through the streets, torching four vehicles, including a bus, witnesses and firefighters said.

33.   Militants also torched several vehicles and set ablaze two government buildings in Hyderabad, a stronghold of MQM, which has so far remained calm despite bloodshed in Karachi.

34.   One person died in sniper fire in Hyderabad Monday and militants torched three vehicles, they said.

35.   Police said activists torched five vehicles and exploded bombs as firefighters tried to put the fire out.

36.   Police said nine vehicles were also torched in the run-up to the strike.

37.   Police said they found a body of a civilian in the eastern district of Malir early Sunday while a group of militants torched three vehicles overnight elsewhere.

38.   Sarande has been in the hands of armed gangs who in the past days have burnt buildings, taken control of naval vessels and torched police vehicles.

39.   Security forces fired into the air to break up the fracas, during which two government vehicles were torched.

40.   Separately, witnesses said three state-owned vehicles were torched Monday in another part of the capital by suspected rebels.