Christian Pakistani girl arrested for 'blasphemy'

An 11-year-old Christian girl has been arrested after being accused of burning pages of a book containing Islamic text, Pakistani police have said.

She was detained for blasphemy after an angry mob demanded her arrest and threatened to burn down Christian homes outside of the capital, Islamabad, Pakistani media say.

Police and a Christian group said the girl has Down's Syndrome, reports said.

Her family and relatives are said to have fled their homes for safety.

According to Dawn newspaper, police said the girl had been unable to answer questions properly during the interrogation.

Rights activists have urged Pakistan to reform its controversial blasphemy laws, under which a person can be jailed for life for desecrating the Koran.

Many of those accused of blasphemy have been killed by violent mobs, while politicians who advocate a change in legislation have also been targeted.

Last year, Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for minority affairs, was killed after calling for the repeal of the blasphemy law.

His death came just two months after the murder of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, who also spoke out about the issue.