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Deadly blast hits Pakistan city Deadly blast hits Pakistan city
(30 minutes later)
At least 24 people have been killed in a suspected suicide bombing in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. At least 30 people have been killed in a suspected suicide bombing in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi.
Police told the BBC a bomber blew himself up in the car park of a hotel, beside a bank. More than 40 people were injured, including women and children.Police told the BBC a bomber blew himself up in the car park of a hotel, beside a bank. More than 40 people were injured, including women and children.
The blast struck a busy area where security is controlled by the military, not far from army headquarters.The blast struck a busy area where security is controlled by the military, not far from army headquarters.
Last week, more than 100 people were killed after a huge car bomb ripped through a busy market in Peshawar.Last week, more than 100 people were killed after a huge car bomb ripped through a busy market in Peshawar.
Similar attacks have killed about 300 people since mid-October when the army launched an operation against Taliban militants in South Waziristan.Similar attacks have killed about 300 people since mid-October when the army launched an operation against Taliban militants in South Waziristan.
UN pull-outUN pull-out
The ongoing violence in the country led the United Nations to announce on Monday that it was pulling international staff from north-west Pakistan.The ongoing violence in the country led the United Nations to announce on Monday that it was pulling international staff from north-west Pakistan.
Our building shook as if in an earthquake and body parts were thrown into our office Raja Sher AliWitness Pakistan offers Taliban bounties Bold tactics stun Pakistan Who are the Taliban?Our building shook as if in an earthquake and body parts were thrown into our office Raja Sher AliWitness Pakistan offers Taliban bounties Bold tactics stun Pakistan Who are the Taliban?
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that the decision had been taken "bearing in mind the intense security situation in the region".UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that the decision had been taken "bearing in mind the intense security situation in the region".
Monday's blast took place in the car park of the four-star Shalimar hotel, Rawalpindi police chief Aslam Tareen told the BBC.Monday's blast took place in the car park of the four-star Shalimar hotel, Rawalpindi police chief Aslam Tareen told the BBC.
The car park is next to an office complex and a bank, outside where customers had been queuing.The car park is next to an office complex and a bank, outside where customers had been queuing.
"We were sitting on the second floor of our office. It was a huge blast," Raja Sher Ali, a marketing manager in a local company, told AFP news agency."We were sitting on the second floor of our office. It was a huge blast," Raja Sher Ali, a marketing manager in a local company, told AFP news agency.
"Our building shook as if in an earthquake and when we came out there was smoke everywhere and body parts were thrown into our office," she said."Our building shook as if in an earthquake and when we came out there was smoke everywhere and body parts were thrown into our office," she said.
Another witness, Zahid Dara, told Dunya TV: "There were many people lying on the ground with bleeding wounds, and a motorcycle was on fire with one man under it."Another witness, Zahid Dara, told Dunya TV: "There were many people lying on the ground with bleeding wounds, and a motorcycle was on fire with one man under it."
Taliban bountyTaliban bounty
The blast struck not far from Pakistan's army headquarters, where militants carried out a deadly siege last month that claimed nearly two dozen lives.The blast struck not far from Pakistan's army headquarters, where militants carried out a deadly siege last month that claimed nearly two dozen lives.
Monday's attack came as Pakistan's government offered rewards totalling $5m (£3m) for information leading to the capture of three Taliban leaders and 15 of their commanders.Monday's attack came as Pakistan's government offered rewards totalling $5m (£3m) for information leading to the capture of three Taliban leaders and 15 of their commanders.
In a front-page advertisement on Pakistan's daily, The News, the largest sum of $600,000 was promised for the capture - dead or alive - of the group's leader Hakimullah Mehsud.In a front-page advertisement on Pakistan's daily, The News, the largest sum of $600,000 was promised for the capture - dead or alive - of the group's leader Hakimullah Mehsud.
It said his Tehrik-e-Taliban group was involved in acts of terrorism that were causing the death of innocent Muslims on a daily basis.It said his Tehrik-e-Taliban group was involved in acts of terrorism that were causing the death of innocent Muslims on a daily basis.
Since launching its South Waziristan offensive on 17 October, the military has captured Kotkai, the birthplace of the Hakimullah Mehsud.Since launching its South Waziristan offensive on 17 October, the military has captured Kotkai, the birthplace of the Hakimullah Mehsud.
On Sunday the army said it was on the outskirts of Sararogha and Makeen, also strongholds of the Pakistani Taliban leader.On Sunday the army said it was on the outskirts of Sararogha and Makeen, also strongholds of the Pakistani Taliban leader.
MILITANT ATTACKS SINCE 5 OCTOBER 28 Oct - At least 118 killed by a car bomb in a market in Peshawar 23 Oct - At least 22 killed in three attacks in northern Pakistan 20 Oct - Eight die in the twin blasts at a university in Islamabad 16 Oct - Twelve die in a bombing in Peshawar 15 Oct - About 40 die in a series of gun and bomb attacks 12 Oct - Security convoy attacked in Swat valley, 41 die 10 Oct - Militants attack Rawalpindi army HQ - 20 killed 9 Oct - At least 50 die in Peshawar suicide blast 5 Oct - Five killed in suicide bomb at UN Islamabad officesMILITANT ATTACKS SINCE 5 OCTOBER 28 Oct - At least 118 killed by a car bomb in a market in Peshawar 23 Oct - At least 22 killed in three attacks in northern Pakistan 20 Oct - Eight die in the twin blasts at a university in Islamabad 16 Oct - Twelve die in a bombing in Peshawar 15 Oct - About 40 die in a series of gun and bomb attacks 12 Oct - Security convoy attacked in Swat valley, 41 die 10 Oct - Militants attack Rawalpindi army HQ - 20 killed 9 Oct - At least 50 die in Peshawar suicide blast 5 Oct - Five killed in suicide bomb at UN Islamabad offices


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