Taliban claim responsibility for suicide attack in Pakistan's Peshawar

Security personnel inspect a destroyed vehicle at the site of a suicide attack in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Nov. 8, 2009. At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 others were wounded on Sunday in a blast in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials said.

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 8 -- Pakistani Taliban have claimed responsibility for the suicide attack in the northwestern city of Peshawar where 12 people including a local mayor were killed on Sunday.

Omar, who claimed to be Taliban spokesman in the area, said the militants carried out the attack. He said that Mayor Abdul Malik had formed a "Lashkar", or militia against Taliban and that is why he was targeted.

A bomber blew himself up near the car of Mayor Abdul Malik at Mattani, a small town 25 kilometers from Peshawar, the capital of the North West Frontier Province, police said.

Witnesses said that the bomber came in a car with five other people. One man came out of the car, approached the mayor and exploded bomb strapped to his body, they said.

A wounded man is carried to a hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Nov. 8, 2009. At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 others were wounded on Sunday in a blast in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, officials said.

Malik was critically injured and died later in hospital of wounds. His nephew was also killed in the attack, police officer Riaz Khan said.

Police said that up to 30 persons were also injured in the attack in a crowded area.

Police said that Malik had supported government's campaign against the militants. According to police, Abdul Malik escaped unhurt in three attacks in the past.

A series of deadliest suicide attacks have been occurred in Peshawar recently. Suspected Taliban militants are blamed for the attacks. Last month, there were at least four bomb blasts in the city killing more than 200 people.

The bomb blasts have increased since the security forces launched military operation in South Waziristan tribal region against Taliban on October 17.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the blast, saying the government will continue military operation against the militants.

Provincial Information Minister, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, has said that the government will not allow the terrorists to accomplish their evil designs. He said that in the future foolproof security arrangements would be made in Peshawar.
(Xinhua)