A Pakistani police officer is seen near burning vehicles after a suicide bombing in Peshawar, Pakistan, 07 Dec 2009
Pakistan say a suicide bomber has killed ten people and wounded more than 40 others in the city of Peshawar.
Authorities say the bomber detonated his explosives outside a courthouse when he was stopped by security guards Monday.
President Asif Zardari released a statement condemning the attack and vowing that such violence will not deter the government’s resolve to fight terrorism.
Militants in Pakistan have killed hundreds of people since the army began a major offensive in the South Waziristan tribal region two months ago.
While officials routinely blame foreigners for the attacks, the senior minister for North West Frontier Province, Bashir Bilour, told reporters Monday that anti-government forces in Pakistan are behind the wave of terrorism.
The U.S. Embassy published a statement condemning Monday’s bombing, calling it “yet another attack on the democratic institutions of Pakistan and the rule of law.”
Also Monday, local media report a blast wounded at least five people in the western city of Quetta.
The recent wave of bomb and gun attacks in Pakistan’s northwest has mainly targeted Pakistan’s security forces, government institutions and foreign organizations.
Last week, a bomber struck a mosque frequented by military officers in Rawalpindi during Friday prayers. The bomb killed at least 40 people and prompted vows from military and civilian leaders that they will not be deterred in the campaign against the Pakistani Taliban.