Pakistan funeral bomb 'kills 20'

Discussion in 'Politics & Religion' started by browntwn, Feb 20, 2009.

  1. #1
    Pakistan funeral bomb 'kills 20'

    At least 20 people have died in a bomb explosion at a funeral procession in north-western Pakistan, police say.

    The attackers targeted the funeral of a Shia Muslim man who was gunned down on Thursday. There are fears Friday's death toll could go higher.

    The blast took place in Dera Ismail Khan, a town close to Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal area, which has a history of sectarian violence.

    The town has witnessed strife between Pakistan's Sunni and Shia communities.

    'Suicide blast'

    A curfew has been imposed in the town, 270km (170 miles) south-west of the capital, Islamabad.

    "The blast occurred when a funeral procession for a Shia Muslim murdered a day earlier was passing by," news agency Reuters quoted Syed Mohsin Shah, the area's top administrator, as saying.

    Police deputy superintendant Sanaullah told Reuters: "It's a suicide blast. We have found the severed legs of the suspected bomber.

    "More than a dozen people have been killed, we are taking bodies and wounded to hospital," he said.

    Gunfire broke out and vehicles were set on fire after the attack.

    Mr Sanaullah said: "The firing has stopped, but the city is very tense and all shops have been closed."

    Hundreds of people have been killed in a wave of suicide and other attacks in Pakistan over the past 18 months.

    Pakistani security forces say they are struggling to contain an insurgency by Taleban and al-Qaeda militants in its border region with Afghanistan. source
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    How accurate do people think this map is? I have never fully appreciated the distinction between these groups until I saw this map. I am curious if people think it is an accurate representation.
     
    browntwn, Feb 20, 2009 IP