At Washington Airport, a delegation of Pakistani politicians has refused to go through a body scanner as part of security.

In protest against being asked to enter the scan the politicians have immediately broken off their official trip, say Pakistani media.

The politicians travelled to the United States at the invitation of Washington. They had been assured in advance that they would not be obliged to undergo a body scan.

They say the scan, which does not show the naked body, but does reveal its shape, is used discriminatorily and conflicts with their beliefs.

Last week, two British Muslim women refused to go through a body scanner at Manchester airport.

As a result they were not allowed to board their flight.

Body scanners have been made compulsory at many airports since the botched Christmas Day attack on board a plane from Amsterdam to Detroit. The would-be bomber had sewn the explosives into his underpants.