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Pakistan leaders' 'narrow escape' Pakistan leaders' 'narrow escape'
(20 minutes later)
Pakistan's top leaders were to have been in the Islamabad Marriott hotel when it was bombed - but changed venue at the last minute, officials say.Pakistan's top leaders were to have been in the Islamabad Marriott hotel when it was bombed - but changed venue at the last minute, officials say.
Interior Ministry head Rehman Malik said the president, prime minister and military chiefs should have been there. Interior ministry head Rehman Malik said the president, prime minister and military chiefs should have been there.
He told journalists "it would have been a great catastrophe", but did not say why dinner plans were changed. He told journalists it would have been "a great catastrophe", but did not say why the dinner plans were changed.
A suicide bomb devastated the hotel on Saturday killing at least 53 people and wounding more than 266. A suicide bomb devastated the Marriot on Saturday, killing at least 53 people and wounding more than 266.
'Entire leadership''Entire leadership'
"The national assembly Speaker had arranged a dinner for the entire leadership - for the president, prime minister and armed services chiefs - at the Marriott that day," Mr Malik told reporters. "The national assembly speaker had arranged a dinner for the entire leadership - for the president, prime minister and armed services chiefs - at the Marriott that day," Mr Malik told reporters.
"The president and the prime minister changed the venue to the prime minister's house. The function was not held at the Marriott, thus the whole leadership was saved.""The president and the prime minister changed the venue to the prime minister's house. The function was not held at the Marriott, thus the whole leadership was saved."
The bomb left a six metre (20ft) crater. It is believed to have been detonated in a lorry. The bomb - believed to have been detonated in a lorry - left a six metre (20ft) crater.
The attack came hours after President Zardari addressed parliament Advertisement
Aerial footage of the damage caused by the bomb
Rescuers have been combing the wreckage for survivors and bodies.Rescuers have been combing the wreckage for survivors and bodies.
Most of the dead were Pakistanis. One Vietnamese, a German and an American are also known to have died.Most of the dead were Pakistanis. One Vietnamese, a German and an American are also known to have died.
No one had admitted carrying out the attack, but the Pakistani Taleban are thought to be the most likely suspects. No-one has yet admitted carrying out the attack, but the Pakistani Taleban are thought to be the most likely suspects.
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan's government said it would take targeted action against the militants, promising raids in some "hotspots" near the Afghan border. Earlier on Monday, Pakistan's government said it would take targeted action against the militants, promising raids in some "hotspots" near the border with Afghanistan.
Driver killed Meanwhile, reports from Peshawar, capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, say the Afghan consul in the city has been kidnapped.
Meanwhile Afghanistan's consul in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, has been kidnapped.
The consul, Abdul Khaliq Farahi, was in a car in a Peshawar suburb when it was attacked by six unidentified men, officials say. His driver died in the attack.The consul, Abdul Khaliq Farahi, was in a car in a Peshawar suburb when it was attacked by six unidentified men, officials say. His driver died in the attack.