In Pakistan, crisis meeting held over violence hike

Pakistan's political and military leaders hold a crisis meeting to contain the rising tide of militancy in recent days that has killed dozens of people.

The meeting was called by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the same day (Friday) as yet another suicide bombing, this time in the north-western city of Peshawar, killed at least 12 people and injured fifteen others. Similar attacks left 42 people dead on Thursday.

The talks were aimed at finding a joint strategy on the ongoing threats the country is facing and measures to counter them. The leaders were also expected to discuss a ground offensive to flush out pro-Taliban militants from the South Waziristan region.

Pakistan's powerful military chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, briefed the country's political leadership, behind closed doors, on the security threats and efforts to counter them.

On Friday, a suspected pro-Taliban rocket attack killed three Pakistani soldiers and injured four others at an army camp in South Waziristan. Another blast destroyed the entrance of a police investigation bureau in Peshawar. The upper floor of a nearby mosque was also severely damaged. Three police officers were killed in the attack.

A statement issued at the end of the meeting said that the political leadership jointly observed that despite the successes in Malakand and Swat, the recent upsurge of terror incidents in the country pose a serious threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the state and called to "weed out these elements."

This is while pro-Taliban militants have warned there will be more bloodshed if the Pakistani army goes ahead with the planned operation in South Waziristan.