At least 25 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a hospital in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, police say.
At least 25 people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a hospital in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, police say.
The attack happened at midday while local Shia Muslims gathered at the hospital in Dera Ismail Khan district, after their leader had been shot dead.
The attack happened at midday while Shia Muslims gathered at the hospital in Dera Ismail Khan district, after their leader had been shot dead.
Meanwhile, there has been more fighting between militants and soldiers in the Bajaur district on the Afghan border.
Meanwhile, there has been more fighting between militants and soldiers in the Bajaur district on the Afghan border.
The violence comes one day after Pervez Musharraf resigned as president.
The violence comes a day after Pervez Musharraf resigned as president.
Coalition parties are expected to meet to discuss later on Tuesday to discuss who will succeed Mr Musharraf.
Coalition parties are expected to meet to discuss later on Tuesday to discuss who will succeed Mr Musharraf.
Security will be a key concern for whoever succeeds the outgoing president.
Security will be a key concern for whoever succeeds the outgoing president.
Mourners struck
Mourners struck
Salahuddin Khan, the head of the local police station in Dera Ismail Khan told the BBC the explosion was "definitely a suicide attack".
Salahuddin Khan, the head of the police station in Dera Ismail Khan, told the BBC the explosion was "definitely a suicide attack".
"At the moment I can say that 25 people have died in the attack", he said. He added that the motive was almost certainly sectarian.
"At the moment I can say that 25 people have died in the attack", he said. He added that the motive was almost certainly sectarian. The region has a history of Shia-Sunni tensions.
At least 24 other people are believed to have been injured, police said.
Two police officers were believed to be among the dead and at least 24 other people were injured, police said.
The attack took place outside the hospital's emergency centre, where mourners had gathered after the body of Zaffar Jajjee, a local Shia killed in a drive-by shooting, was brought in.
The attack took place outside the hospital's emergency centre, where mourners had gathered after the body of Zaffar Jajjee, a local Shia killed in a drive-by shooting, was brought in.
Police officials say the suicide bomber blew himself up in a dense crowd. The dead included children, officials said.
Police officials say the suicide bomber blew himself up in a dense crowd.
Afterwards, an emergency was declared at the hospital and a tight security cordon thrown around the compound.
Afterwards, an emergency was declared at the hospital and a tight security cordon thrown around the compound.
Meanwhile at least 11 militants and a number of soldiers are reported to have been killed in the latest violence in Bajaur district.
Over the last three weeks, 15 people have been killed in Dera Ismail Khan in drive-by sectarian shootings.
Last week the army said more than 150 militants and 13 soldiers had been killed in a week of fighting in Bajaur. Militants put their dead much lower, at about a dozen.
Almost all are blamed on the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Pakistan deadliest militant group know to have close links to al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
The latest violence comes the day after Pervez Musharraf resigned as president of Pakistan.
Fort attacked
In Bajaur district, at least 19 people have been killed in clashes between pro-Taleban militants and security forces.
The dead included five soldiers and 14 militants, local officials said.
Fighting broke out when militants attacked a paramilitary fort with mortars and other heavy weapons.
Eyewitnesses told the BBC that the militants had taken away their dead comrades after the skirmish.
Meanwhile, the bodies of 14 soldiers killed in fighting 10 days earlier have been handed over to a peace committee by the Taleban.
Last week the army said that more than 150 militants and 13 soldiers had been killed in a week of fighting in Bajaur. Militants put their dead much lower, at about a dozen.
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