国际英语新闻：Suicide attack kills 12 in Pakistan's tribal region

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bomber killed at least 12 people, including two soldiers, in northwest Pakistan's tribal region on Saturday, local officials said.

The bomber exploded his bomb at a check post of security forces at Khar, the center of Bajaur tribal region, they said.

The bomber detonated his bomb when the security forces stopped for search, which also injured 25 people.

No group claimed responsibility for the attack. But the officials blamed Taliban militants for the attack.

An injured victim of a suicide bombing in Bajur tribal region, is sent to the  local hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010

The injured were rushed to the region's main hospital, officials said. Several critically injured were shifted to Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province.

The security forces are engaged in operation against Taliban militants in Bajaur and an army statement said that 10 militants and two soldiers were killed in an encounter on Friday.

All bazaars in Khar were shut down and the authorities imposed curfew after the attack, locals said. The security forces launched a search operation to apprehend suspected militants, they said.

An injured victim of a suicide bombing in Bajur tribal region, is seen at a local hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010

Tribesmen said that they heard firing after the attack but they did not know as to who were firing. The authorities also stepped up security at all exit and entry points, locals said.

The authorities appealed for blood as the local hospital was running short of blood after receiving many injured.

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the bomb blast at a security check post in Bajaur, the Prime Minister office said.

The Prime Minister expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in this tragic incident, a statement said.

He ordered for immediate inquiry into the incident and provision of best medical facilities to the injured.

An injured victim of a suicide bombing in Bajur tribal region, is seen at a local hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010