This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7273493.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Suicide bomb kills 20 in Pakistan | Suicide bomb kills 20 in Pakistan |
(20 minutes later) | |
More than 20 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a gathering of tribal elders and local officials in north-west Pakistan, reports say. | More than 20 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a gathering of tribal elders and local officials in north-west Pakistan, reports say. |
Scores of people were hurt in the blast, near the town of Dara Adam Khel. | |
Officials say that the blast happened as the elders were discussing the security situation in the area. | Officials say that the blast happened as the elders were discussing the security situation in the area. |
The town, which is 40km (25 miles) south of the city of Peshawar, was the scene of fierce clashes between troops and militants in January. | |
At least 13 troops and 70 militants were killed after militants occupied a Japanese-built road tunnel. | |
Correspondents say the border areas of North West Frontier Province are a hotbed of militancy and a feeding ground for the Taleban and al-Qaeda, and have seen growing violence directed at Pakistani government forces. | |
But Islamists were beaten by secular parties in the tribal regions and in neighbouring North West Frontier Province in the recent parliamentary elections. | |
'Thousands involved' | |
The attack took place when tribal elders and officials had gathered for a traditional jirga, or assembly, to discuss increased Taleban activity in the area. | |
Witnesses said thousands of people were involved in the meeting. | |
They had just finished their discussions when the bomb went off, local official Khalid Khan told AFP news agency. | |
Reports said a young man went up to the elders and blew himself up. | |
The attack comes just two days after a suicide attack at a funeral in the troubled Swat valley killed at least 38 people. |