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Large blast hits Peshawar market Many dead in Peshawar explosion
(10 minutes later)
At least 16 people have been killed and dozens wounded by a large blast in a market in Peshawar, Pakistani. At least 74 people have died and dozens were hurt by a large blast in a market in Peshawar, Pakistan, doctors say.
Buildings were set on fire after the blast and plumes of smoke were seen drifting over the north-western city.Buildings were set on fire after the blast and plumes of smoke were seen drifting over the north-western city.
Pakistan has seen an increase in such attacks in recent weeks as the military carries out an operation against Taliban militants in South Waziristan. More than 200 people have been killed by such attacks recent weeks as the army carries out an operation against Taliban militants in South Waziristan.
The blast comes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins a visit to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.The blast comes as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins a visit to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Pakistani television showed footage of burning shops in the Peepal Mandi area of Peshawar. Pakistani television showed footage of burning shops in the Peepal Mandi area of Peshawar and crowds digging through rubble to rescue people.
Police official Anwar Shah told the AFP news agency the blast had been caused by a car bomb. The market mostly sells products for women, and most of the dead were reported to be women.
Hamid Afridi, head of the Lady Reading hospital in Peshawar, told the AFP news agency more than 80 people had been wounded.
"We have declared an emergency in the hospital," he said.
Burning buildings
Police official Anwar Shah told AFP the blast had been caused by a car bomb.
Buildings and shops were set on fire by the explosion
"It was a huge bomb blast, heard in almost all the city," he said."It was a huge bomb blast, heard in almost all the city," he said.
Zafar Iqbal, a doctor at the city's main hospital, told AFP dozens of people had been wounded, with some in a critical condition. An eyewitness told Pakistan's Dawn television station his house shook when the blast happened.
"I saw people taking away bodies on motorcycles and scooters and carrying bodies," he said.
Another witness, Aqueel ur Rehman, said bodies were lying under the debris.
"Several buildings and a mosque have been badly damaged while a fire has engulfed a building," he told Reuters.
The BBC's Mark Dummet in Islamabad says the latest attack is likely to be blamed on the Taliban, who have already carried out a string of bombings in Pakistani cities since the beginning of the month.
Peshawar was the scene of the deadliest attack in Pakistan, when more than 50 people died in an explosion at an historic market.
Mrs Clinton is in Pakistan to discuss US concerns about the increasing numbers of militant attacks and the security of the country's nuclear weapons.
She has pledged extra US support in Pakistan's fight against the militant insurgency.


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