Church leaders in Pakistan have joined the widespread strong condemnation of the recent assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who they saw as a voice for gretaer equality and freedom - including religious freedom.

Pakistani Christians are expressing concern about the public order situation in their country following President Pervez Musharraf's widely criticised suspension of constitutional government and his declaration of a state of emergency.

Police in Pakistan say that the suspected killer of a Salvation Army worker, who held an administrative position in the group's Lahore office, had been arrested but had escaped from custody over the past weekend. Embezzlement is suspected.

Communities in Asia are slowly and patiently continuing the process of recovery from the major Indian Ocean tsunami of late 2004 – with the active support of churches and other NGO networks.