Saturday, May 28 2005 11:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan last night (May 27, 2005) said officials have identified the suicide bomber who blew himself at a Sufi shrine on the outskirts of Islamabad killing 25 people and injuring 67 others.

A red alert has been sounded to track the accomplices of the suicide bomber.

Investigations have confirmed that the blast was caused by a suicide bomber, Pakistan's Information Minister Shiekh Rashid Ahmed said in Islamabad.

Ahmed told Geo TV that the suicide bomber has been identified by the head, which remained intact in the blasts as well as by his identification card.

A red alert has been sounded for his accomplices, he said.

However, Ahmed did not reveal the identity of the bomber and said that investigators would soon home in on the group that instigated the attack.

Police officials suspect like in the previous attacks, yesterday's blast was also caused by one of the sectarian groups banned by President Pervez Musharraf in 2002.

Extremists Sunni and Shia groups have been banned for indulging in sectarian disharmony.

Twenty-five people were killed in the blast, which took place in the compound of Hazrat Bari Imam shrine, Geo TV said.

Official media however said 19 people, including the suicide bomber were killed and 67 injured.

Eyewitness accounts said a person got on to a stage set up by the Shia devotees in the compound and blew himself up.