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Deadly blast at Pakistan meeting Deadly blast at Pakistan meeting
(30 minutes later)
At least 27 people have been killed in a blast in Pakistan's tribal region after a meeting of murdered ex-PM Benazir Bhutto's party, reports say. A suicide bomber has killed at least 27 people in Pakistan after a meeting of murdered ex-PM Benazir Bhutto's party, the interior minister has said.
It happened on the final day of campaigning ahead of the country's general election on Monday. The attack happened on the last day of campaigning ahead of general elections on Monday.
A security official said the explosion took place in Parachinar, the main town of the tribal region of Kurram in north-west Pakistan. The explosion was in Parachinar, the main town of the tribal region of Kurram in north-west Pakistan.
Violence and vote-rigging fears have marred the election campaign. Violence and vote-rigging fears have marred campaigning for the polls, which were postponed after Ms Bhutto's death.
However, the authorities said they were succeeding in their efforts to ensure the vote would be free and fair. Ms Bhutto, the head of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was assassinated in Rawalpindi on 27 December.
The election was delayed after Mrs Bhutto, the head of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was assassinated in Rawalpindi on 27 December. The authorities have insisted they are succeeding in their efforts to ensure the vote will be free and fair.
'Severe emergency''Severe emergency'
A security official said a suicide bomber in a car had carried out the attack outside the PPP office in Parachinar.A security official said a suicide bomber in a car had carried out the attack outside the PPP office in Parachinar.
At least 90 people were reported injured. Several of our party members are lying in a pool of blood Zafar Ali, PPP supporter class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7244817.stm">Poll views from abroad class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7242883.stm">Voters, boycotters
Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz told French news agency AFP: "It was a suicide attack. There were people outside the candidate's house and they were waiting for food when this man attacked."
At least 90 people were injured, he added.
Most of the victims appeared to be PPP members, Mushtaq Hussain, an administrative official in the Kurram area told the Associated Press news agency.Most of the victims appeared to be PPP members, Mushtaq Hussain, an administrative official in the Kurram area told the Associated Press news agency.
A PPP supporter, Zafar Ali, told AP: "Several of our party members are lying in a pool of blood. We are taking the injured and dumping them into pickup vans to bring them to the hospital."A PPP supporter, Zafar Ali, told AP: "Several of our party members are lying in a pool of blood. We are taking the injured and dumping them into pickup vans to bring them to the hospital."
A doctor at the main hospital in Parachinar told the French news agency AFP: "It's a very severe emergency, a lot of the wounded are in a critical condition." Security is high in the run-up to Monday's polls, with some 81,000 soldiers deployed to support police across the country.
'Conspiracy''Conspiracy'
The blast came a day after Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Qayyum rejected allegations that there would be massive rigging in Monday's election. The blast came a day after Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Qayyum rejected allegations that there would be massive rigging in the election.
Violence has marred the run-up to Monday's election
Human Rights Watch released an audio recording in which it says Mr Qayyum makes the comments about rigging.Human Rights Watch released an audio recording in which it says Mr Qayyum makes the comments about rigging.
Mr Qayyum said the allegations were "a conspiracy against Pakistan".Mr Qayyum said the allegations were "a conspiracy against Pakistan".
Mr Qayyum is a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf.Mr Qayyum is a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf.
The president will not be standing in the parliamentary vote on 18 February.The president will not be standing in the parliamentary vote on 18 February.
But the former military leader could face a serious challenge to his authority if the vote produces a hostile parliament packed with his opponents.But the former military leader could face a serious challenge to his authority if the vote produces a hostile parliament packed with his opponents.
The PPP says it will consider street protests if it suspects electoral fraud.The PPP says it will consider street protests if it suspects electoral fraud.
Mr Musharraf has however warned against any such action.Mr Musharraf has however warned against any such action.
He stepped down as army chief late last year and this election is seen as another key step in Pakistan's transition from military to civilian rule.He stepped down as army chief late last year and this election is seen as another key step in Pakistan's transition from military to civilian rule.
In a separate incident on Saturday in the south-western town of Quetta, police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse a rally of about 1,000 people from opposition parties boycotting next week's elections, police and witnesses told AFP.In a separate incident on Saturday in the south-western town of Quetta, police fired tear gas and used batons to disperse a rally of about 1,000 people from opposition parties boycotting next week's elections, police and witnesses told AFP.