9 Pakistani troops killed in suicide bombing

ISLAMABAD (PAN on Saturday, an official said.

The bomber crashed his explosives-laden car into a wall of the Frontier Corps fort on the Kohat-Miranshah highway in Bannu district. The assault touched off a gunbattle erupted, the Bannu police chief said.

Abdullah Shah told reporters at least nine security personnel were killed and 18 others wounded in the blast that partially destroyed the building. The injured were transferred to the Bannu District Headquarters Hospital.

As usual, the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day after 15 paramilitary troops were kidnapped by militants in the Tank area of the district.

ra/myn/mud