http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=126652&d=23&m=9&y=2009&pix=world.jpg&category=World
Wednesday 23 September 2009 (04 Shawwal 1430)
Taleban bomb Pakistan school
S.H. Khan | AFP
PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Suspected Taleban militants bombed a primary school on the
outskirts of Peshawar on Tuesday, underscoring the militant threat in northwest
Pakistan despite a series of military offensives.
Militants planted explosives to destroy the small school, which educated girls
alongside boys and likely provoked the ire of militants who oppose the
education of women and frequently target girls' schools.
"The school building, which consisted of three rooms was destroyed in the blast
on Tuesday," local police official Hamzullah Khan told AFP.
There were no immediate reports of casualties because the school was closed for
Eid Al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan.
Gunmen have destroyed hundreds of schools since Taleban and Al-Qaeda-linked
extremists embarked on a concerted campaign of bombings two years ago in which
more than 2,000 people have died in the nuclear-armed country.
The school bombing came as police said they were investigating a possible
assassination attempt on a provincial cabinet minister when they killed a
teenage suicide bomber in Totalai village of northwestern Buner district.
"We raided a primary school on intelligence information where four militants
were staying," local police official Noor Jamal told AFP. Three militants ran
away as "we opened fire on them while the fourth one died as explosives that he
had strapped with his body detonated.
It was difficult to determine who was the target of militants but provincial
education minister Sardar Hussain Babak claimed he was the target as he
frequently travels on the road where the school is located.
The army said Monday that troops arrested a badly wounded Taleban commander and
alleged mastermind of suicide bombers in Swat, Abu Faraj.
"The results are that those who had millions of rupees on their heads have now
laid down their arms," said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday.
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