105 confirmed dead in Peshawar bombing

Pakistan is today counting the cost of a car bomb blast in Peshawar which killed 105 people.

At least 200 others were hurt in the attack on a busy market place.

More bodies were recovered overnight and two of the injured died in hospital.

71 of those killed have been identified, including 13 children and 27 women.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Lahore on the second day of her three day visit. She has called the atrocity “vicious and brutal” saying Washington fully supported Pakistan’s battle.

In Kabul, Taliban militants killed five foreign UN staff – including one American – in an attack on an international guest house, deepening concerns over security for the presidential run-off vote due to be held in 10 days’ time.

In another sign of the Taliban’s ability to seemingly strike at will, militants fired rockets at a luxury hotel in the heart of the Afghan capital forcing guests to shelter in a bunker.

In New York, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, issued a defiant statement. He said: “I condemn this shocking and shameless act, and the terrorists who committed this crime. It is unjustifiable by any standard.

“The UN,” he said, “would not be deterred from its noble mission. We stand by the people of Afghanistan today, and we will do so tomorrow.”

Copyright © 2009 euronews

tags: Afghanistan, Attack, Pakistan