*Pakistan Christians demand help*

 Pastor shows the letter ordering Christians to convert to Islam

The warning has terrorised Christians in Charsadda

Christians in north-west Pakistan are demanding government protection
following threats of bomb attacks if they do not become Muslims.

An unsigned letter received 10 days ago said they had to convert by
Thursday.

Militants have been carrying out a sustained campaign to prevent
"anti-Islamic" activities in North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

Last week they blew up a number of music and video shops in the towns of
Charsadda and Tangi.

Living in fear

The Christian community, a tiny minority, received an anonymous letter
demanding they convert or face the consequences.

Soldier on duty outside a church in Charsadda
The government says it is giving protection

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says that while a few families have
left, the rest live in fear.

Police say they have stepped up security at churches but Christians
complain that not enough has been done to protect them.

The warning to Christians to leave Charsadda was delivered to his home.

'No response'

The town has recently been hit by violence - it was this year the scene
of a suicide bomb attack on Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao,
which killed more than 38 people.

About 500 Christian families are living there - most migrated from India
before the creation of Pakistan.

"Only the few policemen who patrol there on the motorbike are watching
the Christians, but no significant security is provided," said religious
minorities spokesman Shabaz Bhati.

"We are very much in fear that due to the lack of security these
extremists will find a way to attack our people easily."

Mr Bhati also asked government officials to publicly condemn the threats
but says he has got no response.