Suicide car bomber kills 18 in Pakistan

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CHARSADDA, Pakistan, April 16 (AFP): A suicide bomber blew up a vehicle packed with explosives at a police checkpoint in northwest Pakistan, killing 18 police and civilians, officials said Thursday.
Pakistan security troops are frequent targets for extremist militants who oppose the government's alliance in the US-led "war on terror" and more than 1,500 government forces have been killed by insurgents since 2002.
The bomber blew up his vehicle late Wednesday in Charsadda, just north of Peshawar in the North West Frontier Province.
"Police were searching a vehicle when a mini-truck came and blew up," senior police official said.
"Bodies of two civilians were found near the site of the attack, raising the death toll in the attack to 18," local police official told newsmen.