Suicide Bombs Kill at Least 50 in Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Feb. 16 -- At least 50 people were killed and 100 injured in two suicide car bombings Saturday in northwestern Pakistan, according to witnesses and government officials.

The attacks, within an hour of each other, raised concerns of more violence as Pakistanis prepare to vote in pivotal national parliamentary elections Monday.

Most of the victims were killed in the first attack, which occurred when a car packed with explosives plowed into the headquarters of the Pakistan People's Party in Parachinar, a town in the country's increasingly fractious tribal region. The party was led by former prime minister Benazir Bhutto until her assassination in December.

Hundreds of people were leaving a rally in support of a local independent candidate, Riaz Hussain, when the explosion ripped through the area, according to a party official in Islamabad.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/16/AR2008021600463_pf.html