A suicide bomber has killed at least 35 people and wounded dozens more at a gathering of tribal elders and local officials in northwest Pakistan.
The attack was the third in as many days in Pakistan, posing an immediate challenge to the country's incoming government, set to be a coalition led by the parties of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto and former premier Nawaz Sharif.
Today’s blast took place in Zarghon village near Darra Adam Khel, the scene of deadly fighting between Pakistani troops and militants in January.
Hundreds of elders from five tribes had convened a traditional council, known as a jirga, to discuss efforts to check growing Taliban activity in the area.
The bomber, believed to be a teenager, approached the meeting place on foot. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
President Pervez Musharraf ‘strongly condemned’ the suicide attack and termed it ‘an attempt to sabotage the peace process,’ as the tribesmen had gathered to discuss the restoration of peace in the area.
Hundreds of people have died across the northwest of the country in recent months in clashes between militants and security forces and in a wave of suicide attacks blamed on extremist rebels.
