Suicide bomber kills 40 at Pakistan funeral

By Augustine Anthony

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed at least 40 people at a funeral of a policeman in the Swat district of Pakistan, days after the Pakistan army said it had begun to bring the mountainous region under control.

Another suicide bomber rammed his car into a vehicle carrying paramilitary forces in the northwestern tribal region on Saturday, killing one civilian and wounding 17 others, including nine troops.

Deputy Superintendent Karamat Shah, who was among more than 500 mourners at the Swat funeral, said the bomber attacked on Friday after people had offered prayers for the policeman, one of three killed earlier in the day by a roadside bomb.

"Pall bearers were carrying the coffin for a police salute," he said. Intelligence officials said at least 40 people were killed and a local doctor said more than 81 were wounded.

Earlier this week the Pakistan army, which has been battling Islamist militants in the Swat region of northwest Pakistan for months, said it had cleared most areas aside from a few pockets of resistance.

The attack on the funeral was part of an upsurge in violence that has raised concern about the stability of Pakistan, less than two weeks after an election meant to bring the country back to civilian-led democracy.

On Monday, the army's top medical officer was killed by a suicide bomber in the city of Rawalpindi. He was the most senior officer killed so far.

In Swat, 34 bodies were received in hospital and more than 50 people were being treated for wounds after the attack on the funeral, said senior doctor Mohammad Khan.