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| Blasts rock north-west Pakistan | Blasts rock north-west Pakistan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 16 people have been killed in two suicide car bomb attacks in north-western Pakistan. | |
| Ten people are reported to have been killed and scores injured in a bombing in the city of Peshawar. | |
| Earlier, a suicide car bomb in the town of Bannu killed at least six people, police said. | |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Islamabad, says the attacks show the Taliban appear to be reasserting themselves after a series of setbacks. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Islamabad, says the attacks show the Taliban appear to be reasserting themselves after a series of setbacks. |
| In Peshawar, police said the bomb had exploded in the car park of a bank in a commercial area. Witnesses said the blast was heard across the city. | In Peshawar, police said the bomb had exploded in the car park of a bank in a commercial area. Witnesses said the blast was heard across the city. |
| "It was a very big explosion. I could see smoke rising from the scene," Asad Ali, a resident, told Reuters by telephone. | "It was a very big explosion. I could see smoke rising from the scene," Asad Ali, a resident, told Reuters by telephone. |
| More than 70 people are reported to have been injured, some critically, and officials say the death toll could rise. | |
| Police targeted | Police targeted |
| In the attack in Bannu, the bomber detonated his vehicle outside a police station. | In the attack in Bannu, the bomber detonated his vehicle outside a police station. |
| Reports say the police building and several neighbouring houses collapsed in the blast. A number of people are thought to be trapped in the rubble. | Reports say the police building and several neighbouring houses collapsed in the blast. A number of people are thought to be trapped in the rubble. |
| Bannu is close to the tribal region of North Waziristan, a Taliban stronghold. | Bannu is close to the tribal region of North Waziristan, a Taliban stronghold. |
| The attacks come after a period of relative quiet from the Taliban, our correspondent says, after insurgents suffered a series of setbacks. | The attacks come after a period of relative quiet from the Taliban, our correspondent says, after insurgents suffered a series of setbacks. |
| In August, the then leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed after a US missile strike. | In August, the then leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed after a US missile strike. |
| After his death, Hakimullah Mehsud took over as the group's leader. | After his death, Hakimullah Mehsud took over as the group's leader. |
| Earlier this month, the Taliban suffered another blow when Pakistani police arrested Muslim Khan, one of the highest ranking Taliban officials in the country, along with four other senior militants. | Earlier this month, the Taliban suffered another blow when Pakistani police arrested Muslim Khan, one of the highest ranking Taliban officials in the country, along with four other senior militants. |
| The Taliban have also vowed to strike back after being ousted from the Swat valley in a huge offensive by the Pakistani army. | The Taliban have also vowed to strike back after being ousted from the Swat valley in a huge offensive by the Pakistani army. |
| The head of the Taliban in Swat, Maulana Fazlullah, was reported to have been seriously injured in an air strike in July. | The head of the Taliban in Swat, Maulana Fazlullah, was reported to have been seriously injured in an air strike in July. |
| Claim of responsibility | Claim of responsibility |
| A Taliban commander who trains suicide bombers claimed responsibility for the Bannu attack in a call to Reuters on Saturday. | A Taliban commander who trains suicide bombers claimed responsibility for the Bannu attack in a call to Reuters on Saturday. |
| "The government was taking undue advantage of our silence," said Qari Hussain, who claimed to be a spokesman for Hakimullah Mehsud. | "The government was taking undue advantage of our silence," said Qari Hussain, who claimed to be a spokesman for Hakimullah Mehsud. |
| "We will carry out more such attacks and these will be much more powerful," he added. | "We will carry out more such attacks and these will be much more powerful," he added. |
| Pakistan's mountainous north-west region, near the Afghan border, is a favoured area for insurgents planning attacks on US and Nato troops in Afghanistan. | Pakistan's mountainous north-west region, near the Afghan border, is a favoured area for insurgents planning attacks on US and Nato troops in Afghanistan. |
| Are you in Peshawar or Bannu? Did you witness either of the explosions? Send us your accounts using the form below. | Are you in Peshawar or Bannu? Did you witness either of the explosions? Send us your accounts using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |