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| Pakistan suicide blast 'kills 38' | Pakistan suicide blast 'kills 38' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 38 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a mosque in north-western Pakistan, police say. | At least 38 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a mosque in north-western Pakistan, police say. |
| The explosion tore through the mosque, near the city of Peshawar, as about 1,000 people offered prayers for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. | The explosion tore through the mosque, near the city of Peshawar, as about 1,000 people offered prayers for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. |
| Among the worshippers was Aftab Sherpao, interior minister in the outgoing government. He survived the attack but said his son was injured. | Among the worshippers was Aftab Sherpao, interior minister in the outgoing government. He survived the attack but said his son was injured. |
| The violence comes as Pakistan prepares for a general election next month. | The violence comes as Pakistan prepares for a general election next month. |
| President Pervez Musharraf lifted a state of emergency on Saturday, saying the threat from Islamic militants had been contained. | President Pervez Musharraf lifted a state of emergency on Saturday, saying the threat from Islamic militants had been contained. |
| We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums Shaukat Ali, eyewitness class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7155524.stm">In pictures: Mosque attack | |
| But in the past week there have been several suicide attacks. | But in the past week there have been several suicide attacks. |
| A senior police official said Friday's attacker had taken a place among the congregation, in the second row behind Mr Sherpao. | A senior police official said Friday's attacker had taken a place among the congregation, in the second row behind Mr Sherpao. |
| "Naturally, Aftab Sherpao was the target," the politician's spokesman Salim Shah told the AFP news agency. | "Naturally, Aftab Sherpao was the target," the politician's spokesman Salim Shah told the AFP news agency. |
| Witnesses said the dead included police officers guarding Mr Sherpao. | Witnesses said the dead included police officers guarding Mr Sherpao. |
| It was the second apparent attack on Mr Sherpao - a close ally of President Musharraf - in eight months. | It was the second apparent attack on Mr Sherpao - a close ally of President Musharraf - in eight months. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7155455.stm">Profile: Aftab Sherpao | |
| As interior minister in the government recently dissolved by the president ahead of elections, Mr Sherpao was the country's top security official and led the government's campaign against Islamic militants. | As interior minister in the government recently dissolved by the president ahead of elections, Mr Sherpao was the country's top security official and led the government's campaign against Islamic militants. |
| He is running again as a candidate for parliament in the election on 8 January. | He is running again as a candidate for parliament in the election on 8 January. |
| Witnesses described a scene of carnage inside the mosque, in the Charsadda district near Peshawar, after Friday's blast. Dozens of wounded people were taken to local hospitals. | Witnesses described a scene of carnage inside the mosque, in the Charsadda district near Peshawar, after Friday's blast. Dozens of wounded people were taken to local hospitals. |
| "We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums," said 26-year-old Shaukat Ali. | "We were saying prayers when this huge explosion occurred. It almost blew out our ear drums," said 26-year-old Shaukat Ali. |
| The death toll formally stood at 38, but local officials said it might be as high as 50, with a further 100 people wounded. | The death toll formally stood at 38, but local officials said it might be as high as 50, with a further 100 people wounded. |
| Correspondents say that it is unusual for militants to carry out attacks during Eid. | Correspondents say that it is unusual for militants to carry out attacks during Eid. |
| Surge of violence | Surge of violence |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says there has been a wave of suicide bombings in the past six months, most in the north-west of the country and most aimed at army and government targets. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says there has been a wave of suicide bombings in the past six months, most in the north-west of the country and most aimed at army and government targets. |
| More than 600 people have been killed, including around 200 soldiers. | More than 600 people have been killed, including around 200 soldiers. |
| The attacks are blamed on pro-Taleban militants retaliating for military operations against them in the border areas near Afghanistan. | The attacks are blamed on pro-Taleban militants retaliating for military operations against them in the border areas near Afghanistan. |
| There has been a surge of violence in north-western Pakistan since troops ousted armed militants from the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad in July. | There has been a surge of violence in north-western Pakistan since troops ousted armed militants from the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad in July. |
| Troops have driven the militants from a series of small towns and villages where they had tried to implement strict Islamic law. | Troops have driven the militants from a series of small towns and villages where they had tried to implement strict Islamic law. |
| The army says it has killed nearly 300 pro-Taleban militants in the restive Swat region in North West Frontier Province. | The army says it has killed nearly 300 pro-Taleban militants in the restive Swat region in North West Frontier Province. |
| The fighting in Swat is the first serious insurgent threat from pro-Taleban forces in what is considered a settled area of Pakistan. | The fighting in Swat is the first serious insurgent threat from pro-Taleban forces in what is considered a settled area of Pakistan. |
Did you witness the attack or were you in the area? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. | Did you witness the attack or were you in the area? Use the form below to send us your accounts, some of which may be published. |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via mobile please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| If you have a large file you can upload here. | If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |