A suicide bomb attack has killed at least seven people and injured 11 near Pakistan's army headquarters, in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
A suicide bomb attack has killed at least seven people and injured 11 near Pakistan's army headquarters, in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Officials said the blast occurred some 2km (1.24 miles) away from a secure compound containing the army HQ and President Pervez Musharraf's office.
Officials said the blast occurred some 2km (1.24 miles) away from a secure compound containing the army HQ and President Pervez Musharraf's office.
General Musharraf was in his office at the time of the attack, but was unhurt.
General Musharraf was in his office at the time of the attack, but was unhurt.
The attack follows a number of recent bombings in Pakistan, which have been blamed on Islamic militants.
The attack follows a number of recent bombings in Pakistan, which have been blamed on Islamic militants.
No group has said it carried out the latest bombing. The location of the explosion was a police checkpoint.
No group has said it carried out the latest bombing. The location of the explosion was a police checkpoint.
A man had approached the checkpoint on foot and detonated his explosives, a government spokesman said.
A man had approached the checkpoint on foot and detonated his explosives, a government spokesman said.
Our policemen challenged the attacker who exploded himselfnear their picket - he was on foot Rawalpindi police chief Saud Aziz
Our policemen challenged the attacker who exploded himself near their picket - he was on foot Rawalpindi police chief Saud Aziz
Two policemen and two paramilitary soldiers were among those killed by the explosion, along with the suspected bomber. The dead and injured included passers-by.
Two policemen and two paramilitary soldiers were among those killed by the explosion, along with the suspected bomber. The dead and injured included passers-by.
President Musharraf was safe inside his headquarters in Army House discussing the security situation with senior officials when the bomb went off, according to presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi.
President Musharraf was safe inside his headquarters in Army House discussing the security situation with senior officials when the bomb went off, according to presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi.
People living and working nearby told the BBC they had heard a huge explosion.
"The blast was so loud and powerful that the windows of my office shook with the sound of it," one man said. "My office is nearly 1.7km from the exact location."
Heightened tensions
Heightened tensions
This is the third bombing in Rawalpindi in the past two months, including a a double suicide bombing in September that killed 25 people.
This is the third bombing in Rawalpindi in the past two months, including a a double suicide bombing in September that killed 25 people.
The attack follows a number of recent bombings in Pakistan
The attack follows a number of recent bombings in Pakistan
Earlier this month, 139 people were killed when bombers in Karachi attacked the motorcade of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as she returned to Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile.
Earlier this month, 139 people were killed when bombers in Karachi attacked the motorcade of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as she returned to Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile.
These earlier bombings are thought to have been the work of Islamic militants, who are angry with both the Musharraf government and Ms Bhutto, whom they believe to be too closely allied to the US.
These earlier bombings are thought to have been the work of Islamic militants, who are angry with both the Musharraf government and Ms Bhutto, whom they believe to be too closely allied to the US.
Tensions in the country were heightened in July when Gen Musharraf ordered troops to storm the radical Red Mosque in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. More than 100 people were killed in the operation.
Tensions in the country were heightened in July when Gen Musharraf ordered troops to storm the radical Red Mosque in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. More than 100 people were killed in the operation.
The mosque had been occupied by Islamic militants, who were using it as a base from which to organise opposition to the government and try to enforce their strict interpretation of Sharia law in Islamabad.
The mosque had been occupied by Islamic militants, who were using it as a base from which to organise opposition to the government and try to enforce their strict interpretation of Sharia law in Islamabad.
Islamist militants with links to the Taleban and al-Qaeda have tried to kill President Musharraf several times because of his support for the US-led "war on terror".
Islamist militants with links to the Taleban and al-Qaeda have tried to kill President Musharraf several times because of his support for the US-led "war on terror".
Since the storming of the Red Mosque the militants have launched a series of attacks on the army, and battles have raged in tribal areas near the Afghan border.
Since the storming of the Red Mosque the militants have launched a series of attacks on the army, and battles have raged in tribal areas near the Afghan border.
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