Suicide bomb kills 40 in Pakistan

A suicide bomber attacked an anti al-Qaida peace meeting attended by thousands of tribe members in north-western Pakistan today, killing at least 40 people in the third suicide blast in the region in as many days.

Five tribes had called the meeting to finalise a resolution that would punish anyone who sheltered or helped Muslim militants, including al-Qaida, Taliban and other foreign extremists, Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said.