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Bomb hits Pakistan tribal elders Pakistan attack death toll rises
(about 10 hours later)
A suicide bomber has killed at least nine people and wounded 40 at a gathering of elders in the Pakistani tribal area of Bajaur, officials say. The death toll in a suicide attack at a gathering of elders in the Pakistani tribal area of Bajaur has risen to 19, a tribal elder and witness said.
Some reports suggest the number killed could be as high as 17. Malik Kamal told the BBC Urdu service that nine elders or leaders of the tribal council were among the dead.
The bomb went off when the tribal elders were gathering to draw up a plan to drive militants from Bajaur, which is a crucial hub for insurgents. Nearly 40 others were wounded when the bomb went off in Bajaur on Thursday when the tribal elders were gathering to draw up a plan to expel militants.
Meanwhile another suicide bomber killed two security personnel and wounded five in the nearby Swat valley. Bajaur and the surrounding district is a crucial hub for insurgents.
Meanwhile another suicide bomber killed two security personnel and wounded five in the nearby Swat valley late on Thursday.
Troops have been fighting a rising tide of militancy in Swat since last year.Troops have been fighting a rising tide of militancy in Swat since last year.
There have been been major military operations against the Taleban in Bajaur. There have been major military operations against the Taleban in Bajaur.
'Running''Running'
Officials say that the bomber in Bajaur targeted members of the Salarzai tribe as they held a jirga, or tribal council, to discuss ways to evict the Taleban from their area.Officials say that the bomber in Bajaur targeted members of the Salarzai tribe as they held a jirga, or tribal council, to discuss ways to evict the Taleban from their area.
Taleban militants have been in complete control in parts of Bajaur
They say that a senior tribal elder, Sazlal Karim, was among the dead.They say that a senior tribal elder, Sazlal Karim, was among the dead.
Many more people are in a critical condition, hospital staff say.Many more people are in a critical condition, hospital staff say.
"The bomber walked up to the jirga and set off explosives strapped to his body," an official in Khar, the main town in the area, told Reuters news agency."The bomber walked up to the jirga and set off explosives strapped to his body," an official in Khar, the main town in the area, told Reuters news agency.
An elder present at the meeting said: "We don't know how and when he got there. We just heard a blast and then people started running here and there." An elder present at the meeting said: "We don't know how and when he got there. We just heard a blast and then people started running here and there."Taleban militants have been in complete control in parts of BajaurIt is the second time in a month that a tribal meeting has been bombed in tribal areas near the Afghan border.
It is the second time in a month that a tribal meeting has been bombed in tribal areas near the Afghan border.
In other violence on Thursday, officials said that at least four suspected militants had been killed in aerial bombing by Pakistani jets in Bajaur.In other violence on Thursday, officials said that at least four suspected militants had been killed in aerial bombing by Pakistani jets in Bajaur.
They say that the jets targeted the residence of a local militant commander, but it is not known if he is also among the dead.They say that the jets targeted the residence of a local militant commander, but it is not known if he is also among the dead.
Targeting eldersTargeting elders
Government forces have been conducting operations against militants in Bajaur since August.Government forces have been conducting operations against militants in Bajaur since August.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Pakistan says that there have been some recent claims of success, but forces continue to face stiff resistance in various areas, especially near the Afghan border.The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Pakistan says that there have been some recent claims of success, but forces continue to face stiff resistance in various areas, especially near the Afghan border.
The army is also encouraging tribes in Bajaur and elsewhere in north-west Pakistan to stand up to militants linked to the Taleban and al-Qaeda.The army is also encouraging tribes in Bajaur and elsewhere in north-west Pakistan to stand up to militants linked to the Taleban and al-Qaeda.
In response, the Taleban have been targeting elders who oppose them.In response, the Taleban have been targeting elders who oppose them.
Last month nearly 30 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack in the Orakzai region aimed at a meeting of local people 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 local people to discuss how to fight the Taleban.
The Taleban have grown in strength in the tribal areas along the Afghan border, where until recently they were safe from American attack.The Taleban have grown in strength in the 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 their bases.But in recent months, the US and Pakistani military have been attacking their bases.