KARACHI, April 3: An anti-terrorism court on Thursday began trial of two activists for launching a suicide attack on a bus carrying French engineers.

Three prosecution witnesses, all doctors who had examined the bodies and treated the injured at the hospital, testified before the court and were cross-examined by the defence lawyers.

The trial is being held at central prison in Karachi for security reasons.

Judge Feroz Mehmood Bhatti had indicted Asif Zaheer and Mohammad Rizwan alias Bashir on Tuesday for the attack that killed 13 people, including 11 Frenchmen.

Being tried in absentia are two other absconding accused.

The accused pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder, terrorism, criminal conspiracy and use of explosives.—dpa