New attack on Pak Islamic party kills 13

PESHAWAR, Mar 31 (AFP): A suicide bomb blast targeting an Islamic party chief killed at least 13 people in northwest Pakistan Thursday, officials said -- the second attack against him and his supporters in two days. The bombing took place in the town of Charsadda, close to the convoy of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party. "At least 13 people were martyred including four police officials and 42 others were wounded in the suicide bombing," senior administration official Ajmal Khan told AFP. "The bomber was on foot and he jumped on the main road in front of the police vehicle and detonated his explosive when the convoy of Maulana Fazalur Rehman was coming," Khan said. Rehman and his companions were unharmed, senior police official Nisar Khan Marwat told AFP, adding that the politician had gone to the town to address a party meeting. Rehman's party spokesman Asif Iqbal Daudzai confirmed that the party chief and other leaders were not hurt, but two security guards travelling in the vehicle in front were wounded. "Maulana Fazlur Rehman and others are safe, their vehicle was damaged in the bomb blast," Daudzai said. An AFP reporter at the site of the blast said the bombing left seven shops and three vehicles wrecked, with walls scarred by blood spots and pellet marks. Fruit from nearby stalls was littered on the ground, scattered among quantities of broken glass.