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Pakistan suicide blast 'kills 30' Pakistan suicide blast 'kills 30'
(30 minutes later)
At least 30 people have been killed in a suicide attack in north-western Pakistan, according to police. At least 30 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a mosque in north-western Pakistan, police say.
Some reports said that the bomber blew himself up at a mosque close to former Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao's house near the city of Peshawar. The explosion tore through the mosque, near the city of Peshawar, as about 1,000 people offered prayers for the Muslim festival of Eid.
Police officer Khalid Khan told the Associated Press news agency that Mr Sherpao and his son were "safe". Among the worshippers was Aftab Sherpao, interior minister in the outgoing government. He survived the attack but said his son was injured.
The explosion happened as people observed the Eid festival, a public holiday in Pakistan. The violence comes as Pakistan prepares for a general election next month.
Dozens of people who were wounded in the explosion have been taken to a local hospital. President Pervez Musharraf lifted a state of emergency on Saturday, saying the threat from Islamic militants had been contained.
A senior police official said the bomber blew himself up inside the mosque while 1,000 people offered Eid prayers. But in the past week there have been several suicide attacks.
He said the attacker was in the second row behind outgoing interior minister Mr Sherpao. A senior police official said Friday's attacker had taken a place among the congregation, in the second row behind Mr Sherpao.
Surge of violence
It was the second apparent attack on Mr Sherpao - a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf - in eight months. He is running as a candidate for parliament in general elections next month.
We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums Shaukat Ali, eyewitnessWe were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums Shaukat Ali, eyewitness
Police official Mohammad Sharif Virk was quoted by AFP news agency as saying that the bomber was "among the people, offering Eid prayers". "Naturally, Aftab Sherpao was the target," the politician's spokesman Salim Shah told the AFP news agency.
It was the second apparent attack on Mr Sherpao - a close ally of President Musharraf - in eight months.
He is running as a candidate for parliament in general elections next month.
Surge of violence
Dozens of people wounded in Friday's explosion have been taken to a local hospital.
"We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums," said another witness, 26-year-old Shaukat Ali."We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums," said another witness, 26-year-old Shaukat Ali.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says there has been a wave of suicide bombings in the past six months, most in the north west of the country and most aimed at army and government targets. It was the second attack on Mr Sherpao in eight months
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says there has been a wave of suicide bombings in the past six months, most in the north-west of the country and most aimed at army and government targets.
More than 600 people have been killed, including around 200 soldiers.More than 600 people have been killed, including around 200 soldiers.
The attacks are blamed on pro-Taleban militants retaliating for military operations against them in the border areas near Afghanistan.The attacks are blamed on pro-Taleban militants retaliating for military operations against them in the border areas near Afghanistan.
There has been a surge of violence in north-western Pakistan since troops ousted armed militants from the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad in July.There has been a surge of violence in north-western Pakistan since troops ousted armed militants from the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad in July.
Troops have driven the militants from a series of small towns and villages where they had tried to implement strict Islamic law.Troops have driven the militants from a series of small towns and villages where they had tried to implement strict Islamic law.
The army says it has killed nearly 300 pro-Taleban militants in the restive Swat region in North West Frontier Province.The army says it has killed nearly 300 pro-Taleban militants in the restive Swat region in North West Frontier Province.
The fighting in Swat is the first serious insurgent threat from pro-Taleban forces in what is considered a settled area of Pakistan.The fighting in Swat is the first serious insurgent threat from pro-Taleban forces in what is considered a settled area of Pakistan.
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