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Bomb hits school bus in Pakistan Bomb hits school bus in Pakistan
(about 5 hours later)
At least nine people were killed when a roadside bomb exploded close to a prison vehicle and a school bus in north-western Pakistan, officials say. At least 10 people were killed when a roadside bomb exploded close to a prison vehicle and a school bus in north-western Pakistan, officials say.
The remote-controlled device exploded in the Upper Dir district of North-West Frontier Province near the Swat Valley. The remote-controlled device exploded in the Upper Dir district of North-West Frontier Province near Swat valley.
Officials said those killed by the blast included four schoolgirls, three policemen and two of the prisoners. Officials said those killed by the blast included four schoolgirls and a number of policemen and prisoners.
Earlier, a suicide bomb attack on the main police complex in central Islamabad wounded at least 13 people.Earlier, a suicide bomb attack on the main police complex in central Islamabad wounded at least 13 people.
The bombings came just over two weeks after more than 50 people were killed and more than 260 wounded in a suicide bombing at the capital's Marriott hotel. The bombings came just over two weeks after more than 50 people were killed and 260 wounded in a suicide bombing at the capital's Marriott hotel.
It was a huge blast, just like an earthquake Amanat Khan, local resident class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7660578.stm">Islamabad police complex attacked The van was carrying prisoners to jail after court proceedings when the roadside remote-controlled bomb went off Local mayor Sahibzada Tariqullah
They also happened as parliament met in a special session for a second day for a classified security briefing on Pakistan's internal security situation.They also happened as parliament met in a special session for a second day for a classified security briefing on Pakistan's internal security situation.
The joint session was called to try to help form a national consensus on how to tackle Islamic militancy and the surge in suicide bombings.The joint session was called to try to help form a national consensus on how to tackle Islamic militancy and the surge in suicide bombings.
Condemnation Violence
Local officials said the improvised explosive device was detonated by remote control as a vehicle carrying a group of prisoners from court to jail passed by. The blast targeting the prison van in Dir occurred shortly after the Islamabad attack.
A school bus which was also driving past at the time was also hit by the blast, they added. Upper Dir is close to the Swat Valley, where troops are battling militants
Unconfirmed reports said at least 10 people were wounded. Officials said a school bus which was driving past at the time was also hit.
Upper Dir district lies close to the Swat Valley and the border with Afghanistan, where security forces have been battling pro-Taleban militants since October last year. "The van was carrying prisoners to jail after court proceedings when the roadside remote-controlled bomb went off," local mayor Sahibzada Tariqullah told the AFP news agency.
District administrator Sher Bahadur said 10 people were wounded.
Upper Dir district lies close to Swat and the border with Afghanistan, where security forces have been battling pro-Taleban militants since last year.
Pakistani security forces said they had detained 18 suspected militants in the valley during an operation on Wednesday, local media reported. Large quantities of arms and ammunition were also seized.Pakistani security forces said they had detained 18 suspected militants in the valley during an operation on Wednesday, local media reported. Large quantities of arms and ammunition were also seized.
Air force jets have also bombed suspected Taleban positions in the Bajaur tribal region and in Swat.
Officials said at least 20 militants were killed, eight of them foreigners. There is no independent confirmation.
Security evadedSecurity evaded
Earlier, a suicide bomber partially destroyed an anti-terrorist squad building inside a police complex in Islamabad, injuring 13 people. Advertisement
The inspector-general of Islamabad Police, Asghar Raza Gardezi, told the BBC the bomber had driven a green vehicle into the Police Lines complex shortly before midday and parked outside a three-storey office block. Footage of the bombed police complex in Islamabad
The attacks in Islamabad and Dir drew condemnation from the prime minister Earlier, a suspected suicide bomber partially destroyed an anti-terrorist squad building deep inside a police complex in Islamabad, injuring 13 people.
He then got out of the car and entered the building, where he put a bag of sweets he claimed to be selling on the desk of a policeman, Mr Gardezi added. The explosion destroyed the front section of the red-brick structure and gouged a crater in the ground.
Moments later, there was a large explosion which destroyed a corner of the building. Shoes were strewn among the rubble. Police said a man delivered sweets to the reception area just before the blast. They are investigating whether there is a link.
Mr Gardezi said the authorities would be looking into why a civilian vehicle was allowed into the police compound in the first place, and how the bomber evaded security checks at the entrance. The Islamabad blast destroyed part of the anti-terror squad building
The inspector-general of Islamabad police, Asghar Raza Gardezi, said the authorities would be looking into why a civilian vehicle was allowed past security checks into the compound.
Another police officer told the BBC that it had been fortunate that many of the officers stationed in the building had been guarding parliament and other areas of Islamabad at the time of the blast.Another police officer told the BBC that it had been fortunate that many of the officers stationed in the building had been guarding parliament and other areas of Islamabad at the time of the blast.
The attacks in Islamabad and Dir drew condemnation from the Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gillani, who said the perpetrators of such heinous crimes would not be spared and would be brought to justice. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taleban told the BBC the group carried out the attack in retaliation for army operations against it near the Afghan border.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the fact that the attack occurred as lawmakers were discussing how to deal with Islamist militancy shows just how difficult their task is.
The attacks in Islamabad and Dir drew condemnation from Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who promised those responsible would be brought to justice.
Our correspondent says the government had said it had strengthened security measures in the capital after the Marriott attack last month.