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Twin blasts kill 15 in Pakistan Suicide bombers hit Pakistan city
(about 2 hours later)
Two suspected suicide blasts have killed at least 15 people and injured others in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi, officials say. Twin suicide car blasts have killed at least 15 people and injured others in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi, officials have said.
One explosion hit a bus carrying security forces, killing at least 15 people, a military spokesman said. One of the explosions hit a packed bus carrying security forces, a military spokesman said.
Another left officers badly wounded at an army checkpoint, he added. He said another blast at a checkpoint left officers badly hurt, and there are fears the death toll will rise.
There have been a number of suicide bombings in Pakistan in recent months, including an attack that left at least 135 people dead in Karachi last month. Pakistan has recently seen a number of suicide bombings, including an attack in Karachi that killed at least 135.
This is the third recent strike on Rawalpindi. I don't think anybody inside the bus could have survived Shoaib Abbasi, eyewitness
In one incident on Saturday, a bomber in a car detonated explosives at an army checkpoint outside the Pakistani army's general headquarters in Rawalpindi, army spokesman Major-General Waheed Arshad said. This is the third recent strike on Rawalpindi, and the first since a state of emergency was imposed by President General Pervez Musharraf.
Other reports from security sources said at least one officer died in this explosion. Rawalpindi, near the capital, Islamabad, is the main headquarters of the army in Pakistan, and the place where Gen Musharraf has his military offices.
Burned-out bus
The bomber who attacked the checkpoint blew himself up in a car, army spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad said.
Other reports from security sources said at least one officer died in the attack.
At about the same time, a car carrying explosives reportedly rammed a Pakistani defence ministry bus heading to an intelligence services building.At about the same time, a car carrying explosives reportedly rammed a Pakistani defence ministry bus heading to an intelligence services building.
An intelligence agent at the scene told the Associated Press that the destroyed bus was a 72-seater, but that more people were on board. An intelligence agent at the scene told the Associated Press news agency that the destroyed bus was a 72-seater, but that more people were on board.
He said the death toll was likely to rise.
Witnesses described a burned-out bus with dozens of ambulances stationed around.Witnesses described a burned-out bus with dozens of ambulances stationed around.
"We saw a burning bus and people from the army trying to put the fire out. I don't think anybody inside the bus could have survived," Shoaib Abbasi, who was working at a nearby hotel, was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
Soldiers and police quickly sealed the scene, and forced bystanders and journalists back.Soldiers and police quickly sealed the scene, and forced bystanders and journalists back.
"Both were suicide attacks," Gen Arshad told local reporters."Both were suicide attacks," Gen Arshad told local reporters.
Military HQ Political turmoil
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombings, but the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says they are often suspected to have been carried out by pro-Taleban militants in revenge for military operations in the tribal areas near the Afghan border and in North-West Frontier Province. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombings.
Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad, is the headquarters of the Pakistani military and where General Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani president, has his offices. But the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says attacks are often suspected to have been carried out by pro-Taleban militants in revenge for military operations in the tribal areas near the Afghan border and in North-West Frontier Province.
The country is in the midst of political turmoil. Gen Musharraf has imposed emergency rule, which critics say will undermine elections scheduled for January. The country is in the midst of political turmoil. Gen Musharraf has imposed emergency rule, which critics say will undermine general elections scheduled for January.
The president has promised to step down as head of the army, and to rule as a civilian president. Last week, Pakistan's purged Supreme Court dismissed the last legal challenges to Gen Musharraf's re-election as president in October.
Gen Musharraf, who seized power in a coup in 1999, has promised to step down as the army chief and serve his term as a civilian.