Violence in Pakistan's Northwest Kills 29

By VOA News 28 August 2009

At least 29 people were killed Thursday in a suicide bomb attack and a suspected U.S. drone strike in Pakistan's northwest.

Pakistani security officers and others stand near coffins of colleagues killed by suicide attack in Torkham, along Afghan border, 27 Aug 2009

Officials say a suicide bomber blew himself up at the main border crossing from Pakistan's Khyber Pass into Afghanistan, as border guards gathered outside their barracks to break their Ramadan fast.

The explosion at Torkham checkpoint killed 21 people, mostly the guards, and wounded at least 15 others.
No one claimed immediate responsibility for the bombing.
Earlier, a suspected U.S. drone strike targeting a suspected Taliban hideout in the South Waziristan tribal region killed eight people and wounded at least seven others.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the suicide attack at Torkham and reiterated Islamabad's resolve to combat terrorism and extremism until their complete elimination.
Pakistan's new Taliban leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, has vowed to take revenge against the United States for the death of their former commander Baitullah Mehsud. Mehsud was killed in a U.S. drone strike earlier this month.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.