Pakistan Minister Won't Resign over Murder Bounty

Offered reward for head of man responsible for Mohammad movie

Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Pakistan's Railways Minister and one of the most powerful figures in the key coalition partner, the Awami National Party, has been under intense pressure to step down since inviting the Taliban and al-Qaeda to murder Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the US-based Egyptian Coptic Christian behind the film "Innocence of Muslims".

Since then, his comments have been denounced and disowned by Raja Pervez Ashraf, Pakistan's prime minister, and his own party leadership, with several senior members calling on him to withdraw his offer and express regret.

But in telephone interview with The Daily Telegraph, he said he did not regret his comments, stands by the bounty and will not withdraw it.