Pakistan soldier killed in blast

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7017513.stm

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A soldier has been killed after a bomb exploded near a convoy of troops in north-western Pakistan, officials said.

The convoy was travelling from Wana town, in South Waziristan district, to Tank in North-West Frontier Province.

Officials said at least 13 others were wounded, some of them critically. They have been admitted to hospital.

Violence has soared in Pakistan, mainly in the north-west, since troops were sent in to oust radical Islamists from Islamabad's Red Mosque in July.

The US says Pakistan's border areas are a safe haven for Taleban and al-Qaeda and the Bush administration is pressing Pakistan to take stronger action against the militants.

There has been a spate of kidnappings, specially of security forces, in and around the tribal areas in recent weeks.

Scores of soldiers abducted a month ago are still being held in South Waziristan. The rebels say they are holding about 300 troops.