Suicide attacker kills troops returning from football game

A suicide bomber blew himself up among a group of Pakistani army recruits returning from a game of soccer today, killing nine of them.

The attack occurred near an army communications centre in Kohat, about 80 miles west of Islamabad.

The young recruits were walking back to their quarters along a public road when a lone bomber walked up to them.

Pakistan has suffered a string of suicide attacks in recent days, most of them targeting security forces.

On Saturday, a suicide bomber on a bicycle killed two soldiers and three civilians outside an army camp in the north-western city of Nowshera.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but officials blame militants linked to the Taliban and al-Qaida who have expanded their influence in areas near the Afghan border.

An army spokesman said it was possible that the suicide attacks were an attempt to avenge a major army operation against militants in the Swat valley, a former tourist destination about 100 miles from Islamabad.

The army claims to have killed about 300 militants in Swat during an operation that began last month. Artillery and helicopter gunships continued to pound targets in the Piochar side valley today.

The spokesman added that the army is investigating reports that Pakistani militant groups have formed an umbrella organisation to wage jihad, or holy war, against the government.

Baitullah Mehsud, a pro-Taliban warlord from the lawless South Waziristan tribal area, reportedly chaired a meeting of 40 representatives of militant groups, including from Swat, last week.