Pakistani PM Cancels U.S. Visit Due To Floods

Flood-affected villagers in Pakistan loot relief supplies at a government office in Umerkot on September 12.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani has canceled a planned visit to the United States to attend next week's UN General Assembly session in New York because of floods that have hit southern Pakistan.

His office said Gilani will be staying at home to coordinate relief efforts.

Monsoon rains in Pakistan have flooded large parts of southern Sindh province over the last six weeks, leaving more than 200,000 people homeless.

Pakistani leaders were widely accused of neglecting victims of the devastating floods that affected much of the country last year.

Gilani says the foreign minister will address the UN General Assembly in his place.

compiled from agency reports