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Bomb hits Pakistan tribal elders Bomb hits Pakistan tribal elders
(20 minutes later)
A bomb has killed at least nine people and wounded nearly 40 at a gathering of tribal elders in the Pakistani tribal area of Bajaur, hospital staff say.A bomb has killed at least nine people and wounded nearly 40 at a gathering of tribal elders in the Pakistani tribal area of Bajaur, hospital staff say.
The bomb went off when the tribal elders were gathering to draw up a plan to drive militants out of their area.The bomb went off when the tribal elders were gathering to draw up a plan to drive militants out of their area.
"Ten to 15 of them were seriously wounded," an official in Khar, the region's main town, told Reuters."Ten to 15 of them were seriously wounded," an official in Khar, the region's main town, told Reuters.
Bajaur is a crucial hub for insurgents, with access routes to Afghanistan and the rest of Pakistan.Bajaur is a crucial hub for insurgents, with access routes to Afghanistan and the rest of Pakistan.
The bomb is reported to have been detonated by remote control. Hospital staff say they expect the number of casualties to increase.
Officials say that the bomb - detonated by remote control - was targeted against members of the Salarzai tribe as they were discussing ways to evict the Taleban from their area. They say that a senior tribal elder, Sazlal Karim, was among the dead.
Targeting eldersTargeting elders
The army is encouraging local tribes there and elsewhere in north-west Pakistan to stand up to militants linked to the Taleban and al-Qaeda.The army is encouraging local tribes there and elsewhere in north-west Pakistan to stand up to militants linked to the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
But the Taleban have been targeting elders who stand up to them.But the Taleban have been targeting elders who stand up to them.
Last month nearly 30 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack in the Orakzai region aimed at a meeting of hundreds of local people who had met to discuss how to fight the Taleban.Last month nearly 30 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack in the Orakzai region aimed at a meeting of hundreds of local people who had met to discuss how to fight the Taleban.
The Taleban have grown in strength in the lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border, where until recently they were safe from American attack.The Taleban have grown in strength in the lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border, where until recently they were safe from American attack.
But in recent months, the US and Pakistani military have been attacking the militants' bases. Local tribal leaders have been increasingly encouraged to take up arms against the Taleban and al-Qaeda.But in recent months, the US and Pakistani military have been attacking the militants' bases. Local tribal leaders have been increasingly encouraged to take up arms against the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
At the end of October officials said that Islamist militants in Bajaur had vowed to lay down their arms and renounce violence.At the end of October officials said that Islamist militants in Bajaur had vowed to lay down their arms and renounce violence.
The vow was taken before a jirga or tribal meeting in the Mamund area of Bajaur, a Taleban stronghold.The vow was taken before a jirga or tribal meeting in the Mamund area of Bajaur, a Taleban stronghold.