TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Pakistani Arms Factory Bombed; 59 People Die

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: August 22, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Suicide bombers killed 59 people at a huge arms factory Thursday in one of Pakistan's deadliest terrorist attacks, adding to the turmoil from political squabbling that is threatening to tear apart the ruling coalition now that Pervez Musharraf has resigned as president.

The twin bombings, which also wounded 70 people, hit one of Pakistan's most sensitive and heavily guarded military installations, underlining the threat posed by Islamic militants to the Muslim world's only nuclear-armed nation, as well as to its war-ravaged neighbor, Afghanistan.

Just hours before the blasts, which were claimed by the Pakistani Taliban as a response to army attacks on militants, a key party in the government coalition threatened to quit in a power struggle that has dismayed many Pakistanis and the country's Western backers.

The Taliban threatened more bombings in major cities unless the offensives are halted.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani appealed to lawmakers to urgently draw up a national strategy against terrorism "even if you have to sit together for a week."

Since Monday, the parties have publicly squabbled over who should succeed Musharraf and over how to restore Supreme Court judges he fired last year.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party threatened Thursday to leave the ruling coalition unless the judges are quickly reinstated.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT