A major electricity transmission line was blown up in Balochistan late on Tuesday, plunging about two-thirds of the province into darkness, an official said. The attack occurred in Sibi district, south-east of Quetta, they said. A little-known group called the Balochistan Liberation Army immediately claimed responsibility in a message telephoned to local newspapers.

"The electricity tower was blown up in Sibi and power supply to two-thirds of the province has been cut off," a senior provincial official told AFP.

"This was the last power supply line after two power transmission lines were blown up earlier this month and now we have no means to supply power," an official from the Water and Power Development Authority said.

"It will take some time before we can repair the damage," the official, Saleem Ahmad, told AFP.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005