BBC News with Marion Marshall

One of Pakistan's best-known liberal politicians, the governor of Punjab province Salman Taseer, has been shot dead in Islamabad. Mr Taseer was in a busy market when one of his bodyguards opened fire on him. Orla Guerin reports from Islamabad.

Police say the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was shot repeatedly at close range by one of those

supposed to

protect him, an

elite

commando who was part of his security team. The reason, according to Pakistan's interior minister, was the governor's opposition to the country's controversial blasphemy laws. The loss of one of Pakistan's best-known politicians will deepen the

profound

sense of crisis here. The killing comes at a time when the government is hanging by a threat.

African diplomats say Laurent Gbagbo is ready to negotiate a peaceful end to the political crisis in Ivory Coast without

precondition

s, but there's still no sign that he's willing to

relinquish

the presidency. A spokesman for his rival Alassane Ouattara, the man recognised internationally as the winner of November's election, meanwhile said his supporters weren't interested in further negotiations; they just wanted Mr Gbagbo to leave office. John James reports.

On face value, this announcement is being interpreted as the first sign of progress in negotiations with Laurent Gbagbo, but on second glance, it's clear that he's not actually giving very much away.