Rights Group: 461 Pakistani Women Killed - Wed Dec 11, 6:45 AM ET By MUNIR AHMAD, Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan's main human rights body said Wednesday that at least 461 women have been killed by family members in so-called "honor killings" this year, an increase from the year before.

In such killings, women are murdered to protect the "family honor" for immoral behavior ranging from sex outside marriage, dating, talking to men, being raped or even cooking poorly.

The 2002 figure is up from about 372 honor killings the year before and demonstrates the need for increased protection for women in Pakistan, the private Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said.

--Savages. Bastards. Cowards.