Children survive suicide attack
Monday, 10 Dec 2007 11:38
The bombing took place in Kamra, Punjab province
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At least five children were wounded when a schoolbus was attacked by a suicide bomber in
Pakistan this morning.
The attacker drove a car packed with explosives into the vehicle in Kamra in the north-east of the country this morning, Major General Waheed Arshad told reporters.
Over 30 schoolchildren were on the bus at Kamra's military airbase but "the timely reaction of the driver" prevented any fatalities, the Reuters news agency quoted Maj Gen Arshad as saying.
The suicide bomber is believed to have died in the attack while both the driver and a security guard were also injured.
Kamra is located around 70km north-west of Islamabad, where Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf's party launched its election campaign manifesto earlier.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid party's secretary general, Mushahid Hussain, said human rights, a free media and "a culture of reconciliation" were its priorities.
Polls are due to be held on January 8th after the ongoing state of emergency is lifted. Pakistan's constitution and civil rights are due to remain suspended until December 16th.
Opposition leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said his supporters would stand against the current governing party, ending previous veto threats.