Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Deadly blasts in Iraq and Pakistan



Iraq has seen further bombings killing at least 16 near to the southern city of Nasiryah. The roadside bomb hit the bus as it made its way along the vroad between Najaf and Basra. A further 20 were injured in the blast. Meanwhile, 5 were killed and 14 injured when a suicide truck bomber drove into a checkpoint in Dhuluiya, about 70 km north of Baghdad [CNN].

Pakistan also saw deadly suicide blasts today which killed 24 and injured over 175. Two suicide car bombers targeted a federal police building, while another struck a suburb of the city of Lahore. President Pervez Musharraf said, "Acts of terrorism cannot deter government's resolve to fight the scourge with full force" [CNN / BBC].
Meanwhile, Pakistan's new parliament will be sworn in next week after President Pervez Musharraf cleared the final hurdle for it to convene. Musharraf has signed a summary of election results so the newly-elected lawmakers can now take the oath of office on Monday. The Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-N won the majority of National Assembly seats in the February 18 parliamentary election. They have formed a coalition and recently called on Musharraf to immediately convene parliament.

No comments: