Blast heard in Pakistani city of Multan-residents

MULTAN, Pakistan Dec 8 (Reuters) - A loud explosion was heard on Tuesday in the eastern Pakistani city of Multan, residents said, but its cause was not immediately clear.

Islamist militants have set off numerous bombs in Pakistan in recent months, most in the northwest of the country, near remote border lands where the army is battling Taliban militants. (Reporting by Asim Tanveer; Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Alex Richardson)