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67 killed, over 70 wounded in suicide explosion in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Nov 5 (KUNA) -- More than sixty-seven people were killed and over seventy others were wounded in a suicide explosion on Friday in a northern Pakistani district, said officials.
A suicide bomber, apparently 17 years old, exploded himself up in a mosque where more than two hundred people were offering the Friday prayer, District Coordinating Officer (DCO) Shahidullah Khan told newsmen. He said the explosion completely destroyed the mosque and buried the worshipers under the debris. Commissioner Kohat, Khalid Umerzai, said that the number of killed people has reached sixty-seven. Whereas, he added, more than seventy were wounded in the blast. The commissioner feared further rise in the death toll saying several of the wounded were in critical condition. This was one of the worst terrorist acts in the region. President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemning the incident said that the fight against terrorists will continue till their complete elimination. He in his message expressed the resolve not to be deterred by such acts of terrorism and vowed to continue the fight against terrorism till its logical conclusion. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has also condemned the blast. He said that the terrorists were pursuing their own agenda and were enemy of the state and the people and said the fight against terrorism will continue till its complete elimination.
Meanwhile, according to local media, the Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack. (end) amn.ajs KUNA 051758 Nov 10NNNN