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Central & South Asia
Scores killed in Pakistan bombing
Suicide bomber targets gathering of tribal elders in northwest of the country.
Last Modified: 02 Mar 2008 10:55 GMT
The attack took place at a meeting of tribal elders [AFP]
At least 40 people have killed in a suicide blast in Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt, medical sources said.

Around 50 people are said to have been wounded.

The explosion ripped through a gathering of tribal elders, the military said.
The blast took place in the Zarghon village near the tribal town of Darra Adam Khel, the scene of violent clashes between Pakistani troops and pro-Taliban fighters earlier this year.
According to Khalid Khan, a local administration official, hundreds of elders from five tribes had gathered at a jirga - a traditional tribal council - to discuss "efforts to check growing Taliban activity in the area".
   
Khan also said the elders and local officials had finished their talks when the bomb exploded.
  
He said: "There were heavy casualties - we are shifting them to  Peshawar."

Violent region

The town of Darra Adam Khel had recently become a stronghold of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a pro-Taliban movement said to have links to al-Qaeda.

In January, Pakistani forces mounted a major offensive to defeat fighters who had occupied a major road tunnel in the area.

At least 13 soldiers and 50 fighters were killed in the heavy fighting.
Source:
Agencies
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