Suicide bomb kills 49 people

A SUICIDE bomber killed 49 people in a crowded market in northwestern Pakistan yesterday pushing the country closer to an offensive against militants in their main stronghold along the Afghan border.

The attack, which wounded more than 100 people in Peshawar, was the deadliest in six months and a reminder of the ability of insurgents to strike in major cities despite operations against them and the death of their leader in a US missile strike.

Peshawar Police Chief Liaqat Ali Khan said the attacker was in a car packed with a “huge” amount explosives and artillery rounds. There was no claim of responsibility for the bombing.