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Deadly blast at Pakistan meeting Deadly blast at Pakistan meeting
(20 minutes later)
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. A suicide bomber has killed 37 people after a meeting of supporters of murdered ex-PM Benazir Bhutto's party, Pakistan's interior ministry says.
The attack happened on the last day of campaigning ahead of general elections on Monday. The attack, on the last day of campaigning ahead of general elections on Monday, also wounded 90.
The explosion was in Parachinar, the main town of the tribal region of Kurram in north-west Pakistan. It took place in Parachinar, the main town of the tribal region of Kurram in north-west Pakistan.
Violence and vote-rigging fears have marred campaigning for the polls, which were postponed after Ms Bhutto's death.Violence and vote-rigging fears have marred campaigning for the polls, which were postponed after Ms Bhutto's death.
Ms Bhutto, the head of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), was assassinated in Rawalpindi on 27 December.Ms 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. President Pervez Musharraf said on Saturday that he was confident the elections would 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. The blast in Parachinar took place as people were gathering outside the office of a local politician - an independent candidate who supports the PPP - after an election meeting had finished.
Eyewitnesses said a car was driven into the crowd and blown up, scattering body parts across the street.
Several of our party members are lying in a pool of blood Zafar Ali, PPP supporter Poll views from abroadVoters, boycottersSeveral of our party members are lying in a pool of blood Zafar Ali, PPP supporter Poll views from abroadVoters, 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."
Security is high in the run-up to Monday's polls, with some 81,000 soldiers deployed to support police across the country. Correspondents say the area where the attack took place is a volatile border region that has seen rising Islamist militancy in recent months.
'Conspiracy''Conspiracy'
The blast came a day after Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Qayyum rejected allegations that there would be massive rigging in the election. In a speech broadcast on state-run television on Saturday, President Musharraf said Pakistan would have a "stable, democratically elected government" which would be used to "ensure a successful fight against terrorism and extremism".
A day earlier, Pakistan's Attorney General Malik Qayyum had rejected allegations that there would be massive rigging in the 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, a close ally of President Musharraf, said the allegations were "a conspiracy against Pakistan".
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. President 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 a 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. Correspondents say fears of violence have kept many Pakistanis from attending rallies during the election campaign.
Security is high in the run-up to Monday's polls, with some 81,000 soldiers deployed to support police across the country.
In separate incidents:
  • A man equipped with a suicide jacket and explosives was arrested in the southern city of Hyderabad on Saturday, police said.
  • Police fired tear gas at a rally of about 1,000 people from opposition parties boycotting next week's elections in the south-western town of Quetta on Saturday, police and witnesses said.
  • Militants blew up a polling centre in the Bajaur tribal region on Friday night, police said.
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