Bombers kill 20 on Pakistan campaign trail

PAKISTAN: Bombers killed 20 people and wounded dozens more in Pakistan on Tuesday in the bloodiest day of violence yet on the campaign trail for next month's historic general election.

Pakistan goes to the polls on May 11 for an election that will mark the first time a civilian government has handed over power at the ballot box after completing a full term in office, in a country used to extended periods of military rule. But campaign rallies have got off to a lacklustre start, in part dogged by security fears in the nuclear-armed nation troubled by Al-Qaeda-linked violence and where the Taliban have followed through on a series of threats against politicians.

On Tuesday, Pakistan's umbrella Taliban faction claimed responsibility for a suicide attack that officials said killed 16 people and wounded dozens more at a rally attended by a former cabinet minister in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

AFP