Suicide bomb kills 40 in Pakistan

Sunday's attack is Pakistan's third suicide bombing in as many days

At least 40 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a gathering of tribal elders and local officials in north-west Pakistan, reports say.

Scores of people were hurt in the blast, near the town of Dara Adam Khel.

Officials say that the blast happened as the elders were discussing the security situation in the area.

The town, which is 40km (25 miles) south of the city of Peshawar, was the scene of fierce clashes between troops and militants in January.

At least 13 troops and 70 militants were killed after militants occupied a Japanese-built road tunnel.

Correspondents say the border areas of North West Frontier Province are a hotbed of militancy and a feeding ground for the Taleban and al-Qaeda, and have seen growing violence directed at Pakistani government forces.

But Islamists were beaten by secular parties in the tribal regions and in neighbouring North West Frontier Province in the recent parliamentary elections.

Body parts

The attack took place when tribal elders and officials had gathered for a traditional jirga, or assembly, to discuss increased Taleban activity in the area.

Witnesses said thousands of people were involved in the meeting.

They had just finished their discussions when the bomb went off, local official Khalid Khan told AFP news agency.

Reports said a young man went up to the elders and blew himself up.

"It was a huge explosion and left body parts and blood scattered on the ground," Ramin Khan, who was injured in the blast, told the Associated Press news agency.

Doctors said many of the injured were in a critical condition and the death toll could rise.

It is the third attack in as many days in north-west Pakistan. On Friday, a suicide bomber attacked a funeral in the troubled Swat valley, killing at least 38 people.