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| Pakistan leaders' 'narrow escape' | Pakistan leaders' 'narrow escape' |
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| 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 the 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 Marriot 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. |
| The Czech ambassador to Pakistan was also killed in the blast, it was confirmed on Sunday. | The Czech ambassador to Pakistan was also killed in the blast, it was confirmed on Sunday. |
| President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani were planning to dine at the Marriott, Mr Malik said, before a late change of plan. The function was not held at the Marriott, thus the whole leadership was saved Rehman MalikPakistani interior ministry href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7628857.stm">'We are all in pain and agony' class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7628890.stm">Pakistan troops 'repel US raid' | |
| "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." |
| In other developments, it was reported that Pakistani troops fired on US helicopters that violated Pakistani airspace near the border with Afghanistan on Sunday night. | In other developments, it was reported that Pakistani troops fired on US helicopters that violated Pakistani airspace near the border with Afghanistan on Sunday night. |
| Tensions between the US and Pakistan have risen in recent weeks amid US accusations that Pakistan is not doing enough to combat Taleban militants in the region. | Tensions between the US and Pakistan have risen in recent weeks amid US accusations that Pakistan is not doing enough to combat Taleban militants in the region. |
| And in Peshawar, capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, an Afghan diplomat was kidnapped and his driver killed, reports said. | And in Peshawar, capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, an Afghan diplomat was kidnapped and his driver killed, reports said. |
| Taleban suspects | Taleban suspects |
| The heavily guarded Islamabad Marriot was attacked at about 2000 (1500 GMT) on Saturday. | The heavily guarded Islamabad Marriot was attacked at about 2000 (1500 GMT) on Saturday. |
| CCTV footage of the moments before the blast show a six-wheeler lorry ramming the security barrier at the hotel gate. | CCTV footage of the moments before the blast show a six-wheeler lorry ramming the security barrier at the hotel gate. |
| The bomb - believed to have been detonated in the lorry - left a six-metre (20ft) crater. | The bomb - believed to have been detonated in the lorry - left a six-metre (20ft) crater. |
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| Aerial footage of the damage caused by the bomb | 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, although one Vietnamese, a German and an American are also known to have died, with an American and a Danish intelligence officer missing, presumed dead. | Most of the dead were Pakistanis, although one Vietnamese, a German and an American are also known to have died, with an American and a Danish intelligence officer missing, presumed dead. |
| The blast has prompted British Airways to cancel two flights to Pakistan "in light of the security situation". | The blast has prompted British Airways to cancel two flights to Pakistan "in light of the security situation". |
| No-one has yet admitted carrying out the attack, but the Pakistani Taleban are thought to be the most likely perpetrators. | No-one has yet admitted carrying out the attack, but the Pakistani Taleban are thought to be the most likely perpetrators. |
| The Marriott was the most prestigious hotel in the capital, located near government buildings and diplomatic missions. It is popular with foreigners and the Pakistani elite. Eyewitnesses: Pakistan blastIn pictures: Islamabad aftermath | The Marriott was the most prestigious hotel in the capital, located near government buildings and diplomatic missions. It is popular with foreigners and the Pakistani elite. Eyewitnesses: Pakistan blastIn pictures: Islamabad aftermath |
| The hotel has previously been the target of militants. Last year, a suicide bomber killed himself and one other in an attack at the hotel. | The hotel has previously been the target of militants. Last year, a suicide bomber killed himself and one other in an attack at the hotel. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad, says the latest attack might have been retaliation for army bombardments of suspected Taleban targets with jet fighters. | The BBC's Barbara Plett, in Islamabad, says the latest attack might have been retaliation for army bombardments of suspected Taleban targets with jet fighters. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Away from Islamabad, troops reportedly forced US helicopters out of Pakistani airspace in the tribal area of North Waziristan. | Away from Islamabad, troops reportedly forced US helicopters out of Pakistani airspace in the tribal area of North Waziristan. |
| Our correspondent says that following a series of US raids on Pakistani territory earlier this month that it reserved the right to retaliate, with a series of warning shots the standard procedure. | Our correspondent says that following a series of US raids on Pakistani territory earlier this month that it reserved the right to retaliate, with a series of warning shots the standard procedure. |
| In Peshawar, Afghan consul Abdul Khaliq Farahi was in a car in a city suburb when it was attacked by six unidentified men, officials say. His driver died in the attack. | In Peshawar, Afghan consul Abdul Khaliq Farahi was in a car in a city suburb when it was attacked by six unidentified men, officials say. His driver died in the attack. |