A bomb blast in a busy market area killed at least six people in Pakistan's tribal region on Friday, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported.

An explosive device went off when some people were busy shopping ahead of "Eid" in Orakzai tribal agency, said the report.

As a result, six people were killed and five others injured. No group claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, the NNI quoted officials as saying that it might be linked to sectarianism.

The injured have been sent to a local hospital.

Officials believe that the bomb was exploded through a remote control device. Orakzai agency is located in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and has seen sectarian clashes in recent months.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2008)