The death toll in a massive suicide blast in Pakistan’s militant-plagued north-west reached 35, officials said today, as the country prepared for the widower of assassinated ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to take over as president.

PAKISTANI forces bombed dozens of houses in a tribal region near the Afghan border yesterday, officials and witnesses said, amid reports that days of clashes have killed at least 100 insurgents and nine paramilitary troops.

Pakistani forces bombed dozens of houses in a tribal region near the Afghan border today, officials and witnesses said, amid reports that days of clashes have killed at least 100 insurgents and nine paramilitary troops.

PAKISTAN’S government has banned access to the video-sharing website YouTube because of movies that the authorities consider “anti-Islamic”, an official said yesterday.