Taleban suicide bomber kills 23 in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (AP) - A Taleban suicide bomber struck a Shiite Muslim procession near Pakistan's capital, killing 23 people in the latest of a series of bombings targeting Shiites during the holiest month of the year for the sect, officials said on Thursday.

The bomber attacked the procession around midnight on Wednesday in the city of Rawalpindi, located next to the capital, Islamabad, said state rescue official Deeba Shahnaz. At least 62 people were wounded by the blast, including six policemen. Eight of the dead and wounded were children.

Police tried to stop and search the bomber as he attempted to join the procession, but he ran past them and detonated his explosives, said senior police official Haseeb Shah. The attacker was also carrying grenades, some of which exploded, said Mr Shah.

"I think the explosives combined with grenades caused the big loss," he said.