Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 6, 2008

Death Toll Rises to 27 in Pakistan Bombing
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=20DD6CE:A6F02AD83191E160E976BF54ED1782645C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
Rescue workers find six more bodies in rubble left by car bombing in
northwestern city of Peshawar 
Pakistani people gather at site after explosion in Peshawar, Pakistan,
06 Dec 2008Rescue officials digging through the rubble of a car bombing
in
northwestern Pakistan have found six more bodies, raising the death
toll to 27.Pakistani authorities say some bodies were burned
beyond recognition, but they know children were among the victims of
Friday's blast in Peshawar. The attack happened near a Shi'ite
mosque and a crowded market, where narrow alleys and onlookers
prevented rescue workers from quickly reaching victims. Peshawar's
mayor, Hajji Ghulam Ali, tells VOA the rescue work has been difficult.
He says investigators are still working to determine who was behind the
attack. The head of the North West Frontier Province
government, Haider Khan Hoti, has suggested "external forces" could be
to blame - a phrase generally used to refer to India. Tensions between
the countries have soared since India blamed Pakistan for last week's
terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Pakistan's
civilian government is under enormous pressure from India and the
United States to crack down on groups suspected of involvement in the
Mumbai attacks. Top U.S. officials have visited India and
Pakistan in recent days to try to defuse the tensions. U.S. Senators
John Mc Cain, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham met with top Pakistani
leaders Saturday. On Friday, Pakistani security
officials in the Taliban-dominated North Waziristan tribal agency said
an air strike by a suspected U.S. drone killed at least three people
near the town of Mir Ali.


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