Explosions in Pakistan Hit Peshawar Court, Lahore Market

Source: VOA

07 December 2009

Police in Pakistan's eastern city Lahore say two explosions in a busy outdoor market have wounded at least 20 people

A Pakistani police officer is seen near burning vehicles after a suicide bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 Dec 2009

Police in Pakistan's eastern city Lahore say two explosions in a busy outdoor market have wounded at least 20 people.

Television footage of the Monday evening blasts show rescue workers battling large fires.  Authorities have released few details about the explosions, which occurred in an area of the city called Moon Market.

A local television station, Pakistan news express 24/7, says the blasts hit multi-story buildings that have shops on the ground level and apartments on higher floors.

Hours earlier, police in Peshawar said a suicide bomber killed ten people and wounded more than 40 others in an attack outside a courthouse.

Authorities say the bomber detonated his explosives when he was stopped by security guards.

President Asif Zardari released a statement condemning the attack and vowing that such violence will not deter the government's resolve to fight terrorism.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad published a statement calling the bombing "yet another attack on the democratic institutions of Pakistan and the rule of law."

Militants in Pakistan have killed hundreds of people since the army began a major offensive in the South Waziristan tribal region two months ago.

While officials routinely blame foreigners for the attacks, the senior minister for North West Frontier Province, Bashir Bilour, told reporters Monday that anti-government forces in Pakistan are behind the wave of terrorism.

The bomb and gun attacks in Pakistan's northwest have mainly targeted Pakistan's security forces, government institutions and foreign organizations.

Last week, a bomber struck a mosque frequented by military officers in Rawalpindi during Friday prayers. The bomb killed at least 40 people and prompted vows from military and civilian leaders that they will not be deterred in the campaign against the Pakistani Taliban.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP.