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Suicide bomb hits Pakistan elders Suicide bomb hits Pakistan elders
(about 1 hour later)
At least 15 people have been killed in a suicide bombing at a meeting of tribal elders in a restive region of Pakistan near the Afghan border. At least 15 people have been killed in a suicide car bomb attack at a meeting of tribal elders in a restive region of Pakistan near the Afghan border.
Dozens were injured in the blast at a council of local leaders in the Orakzai district, one of Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous tribal regions.Dozens were injured in the blast at a council of local leaders in the Orakzai district, one of Pakistan's seven semi-autonomous tribal regions.
They were meeting to raise a militia to evict Taleban from the region when the attack took place. They were meeting to raise a militia to evict Taleban from the region.
In recent weeks, local tribesmen have taken up arms to fight the Taleban alongside the Pakistan army.
Orakzai, near the main north-west city of Peshawar, has been relatively calm.Orakzai, near the main north-west city of Peshawar, has been relatively calm.
The BBC's Shoaib Hasan, in Pakistan, says the suicide bomber drove his car into the meeting of 600 people which was being held in open ground and blew himself up.
"We were busy in raising a lashkar [tribal militia] to evict Taleban from the region when this attack took place," Qeemat Khan Orakzai, a member of the council, told Reuters news agency."We were busy in raising a lashkar [tribal militia] to evict Taleban from the region when this attack took place," Qeemat Khan Orakzai, a member of the council, told Reuters news agency.
The BBC's Shoaib Hasan, in Pakistan, says the suicide bomber walked into the meeting of 600 people and blew himself up. 'Revenge'
A security official told AFP news agency that the suicide attack came a day after armed tribesmen had targeted two militant hideouts. A security official told AFP news agency: "The tribesmen blew up two hideouts of the militants a day earlier and it is possible this attack was in revenge for their actions."
The attack also comes a day after the Taleban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing of a building belonging to an anti-terror squad in the Pakistan capital of Islamabad's main police complex.
Pro-Taleban militants on the Pakistan side of the border have been blamed for a rise in attacks on US and Nato troops in Afghanistan.Pro-Taleban militants on the Pakistan side of the border have been blamed for a rise in attacks on US and Nato troops in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's government has been courting the fiercely independent tribes to persuade them to stand up to the insurgents. Pakistan's government has allied with some of the fiercely independent tribes against the insurgents and they are currently taking on the militants in the Bajaur tribal region.
The Taleban has killed dozens of tribal elders they accuse of backing the government in recent years using roadside bombs, executions and suicide bombings.