LONDON, Aug 4 The death of eight Christians burnt alive has diminished Pakistan and injured the Muslim faith, the spiritual head of the world's 77 million Anglicans said on Tuesday. Four women and a child were among those killed in the violence which broke out in Gojra town of Punjab on Saturday after a mob torched Christians' homes following allegations one had desecrated the Quran.

Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual head of the Anglican church, called on the Pakistan government to protect the “small and vulnerable” Christian minority.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said Christians needed to be assured they lived in a “just and peaceful society”.

“They are disproportionately affected by the draconian laws against blasphemy, which in recent years have frequently been abused in order to settle local and personal grievances,” he said.

“ Those of us who love Pakistan and its people, whatever their faith, feel that the whole country is injured and diminished by the violence that has occurred.”

A Pakistani official said militants from groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Taliban were suspected of being behind the violence.—Reuters