Six Pakistani opposition activists killed

ISLAMABAD, Feb 9 (Reuters) Gunmen ambushed a van carrying activists of the opposition Pakistan People's Party (PPP) today, killing six and wounding two, police and a party official said.

Police said the gunmen were from a rival party but did not say which one.

A general election is due in Pakistan late this year or early next and parties have already begun manoeuvring for support. Pakistani elections are traditionally plagued by violence between rival supporters.

A senior PPP official said the party was investigating the killing of its activists in Attock district, 90 km west of the capital, Islamabad.

''This is an election year and for that very reason we are seriously concerned that it is intended to warn our supporters against supporting our party,'' Farhatullah Babar said of the attack.

The PPP is led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto who has lived in self-imposed exile since 1998.

Bhutto has said she will return for the election although President Pervez Musharraf has repeatedly vowed to keep her out of the polls. He accuses her of corruption during her time in office, which she denies.

REUTERS SY HS1828