Pope appeals for peace as unrest continues in Kashmir

Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday appealed for peace in India and neighbouring South Asian countries as fresh violence claimed the lives of several people.

Speaking after his weekly general audience gathering some 7,000 pilgrims at the Vatican, the pontiff said he was following "with concern" events in Afghanistan as well as in Pakistan and India.

"I pray for the victims and call for respect for religious freedom and the logic of reconciliation and peace prevail over hatred and violence," he said in his speech.

About 18 civilians were shot dead as stone-throwing rioters defied curfews and torched a Christian school in Kashmir.

The latest outbreaks were reported to have been sparked by rumours of the burning of Quran in the US.

The Vatican in a statement earlier deplored the "senseless violence" which it said targeted the life of "innocent people".

"These reports are causing us a lot of pain," said Pier Luigi Celata, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue.

Violence against Christians was also reported from nearby Punjab state, where a Muslim mob set on fire a Protestant church.

A curfew has been put in place in the town to quell the unrest.

Its feared there may have been more deaths in the fresh outbreak of violence, as the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appealed to protesters to shun violence.

Rev. Pradeep Samantaroy, bishop of the Amritsar Diocese, informs that the "the situation poses one of the worst challenges for the Christian Community in recent times. "

"We, as disciples of Lord Jesus Christ, need to come together in prayer to express our solidarity with the victims of religious intolerance and seek God's intervention in establishing peace and harmony among people," he said.