Pakistan - Afghanistan

Attacks kill five in Pakistan, eight in Afghanistan

Article published on the 2009-12-24 Latest update 2009-12-24 17:26 TU

A policeman collects evidence at the site of the suicide bomb attack near a checkpost in Peshawar, located in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.
(Photo: Reuters)

In Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, a suicide attacker on Thursday killed five people by exploding a vest packed with steel pellets. The attack occured at a security checkpoint in one of the busiest areas of the city.

The bomber exploded the vest when he was stopped by police. One woman and one policeman were among the dead and 14 people were wounded. Officials say they were several possible targets as there was a Pakistan International Airlines building in the area, as well as a Shiite mosque and several shopping malls.

The attack was condemned by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and by the US embassy in Islamabad.

Meanwhile in southern Afghanistan, a suicide bomber killed eight people and wounded five on Thursday evening. The attack occured outside the provincial health ministry in Kandahar.

Provincial police said five of the dead were sitting in a car nearby while the other three were passer-bys. The attacker detonated his explosives after he had been ordered to stop by police.