spokesman

A spokesman for the new investigative committee set up by the government said it was already "gathering and reviewing evidence" and would present a report in 30 days.

A Balochistan government spokesman told local newspaper Dawn that there were reports of "intense firing" at the train.

Last week, the deputy chief of the army and two ministers - all allies of Machar - were arrested by the security forces, which an opposition spokesman called a "grave violation" of the peace deal.

Security forces had "neutralized" loyalists of former president Bashar al-Assad in several towns in Latakia and Tartous provinces and were "paving the way for life to return to normal", a ministry spokesman said.

The alarm was raised at 09:48 GMT and the incident "is ongoing", an HM Coastguard spokesman.