15 killed in bomb blast in Pak`s NWFP

Islamabad, Oct 9 (PTI) A mini bus packed with
explosives was Friday detonated at a crowded market in
Pakistan's North West Frontier Province provincial capital of
Peshawar, killing at least 15 people and wounding 40 others.

Police said most of those killed were passengers in
the vehicle when it exploded in the famous Khyber bazar area
Friday morning, Pakistani TV channels reported.

"Upto 10 people were killed and 40 wounded in the
blast," minister for information in the NWFP Government Mian
Iftikhar Hussain said.

However, Dawn TV channel said 15 bodies were brought
to the Lady Reading Hospital in the city. The casualty toll
could go up, police said.

The market is located close to the area having key
government offices including Peshawar High Court and NWFP
Assembly building.

The provincial NWFP Assembly was in session when the
blast rocked the area.

An overturned mini bus, a three wheeler blown apart
and at least three damaged vehicles besides several burnt
shops were shown on the TV channels near the blast site.

There was no word whether it was a suicide attack or
the explosives were triggered through remote control device.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

This the second attack in Peshawar city in less than
two weeks. PTI