Car bomb blast kills one in northwest Pakistan

KOHAT, Pakistan, Jan 25 (Reuters) A car bomb explosion killed one person and wounded four passers by in northwestern Pakistan today, police said.

The motive behind the blast in the town of Hangu in the North West Frontier Province could not be immediately ascertained but police suspected it could be a suicide bombing.

The suspected bomber parked his explosive-laden car in the main market of Hangu, which exploded after a short time, local police offical Saeed Khan said.

''The body of the man killed has been completely blown up from chest to knees, and I think it was a suicide bombing,'' he told Reuters.

Hangu is close to Pakistan's lawless tribal belt, near the Afghan border, where security forces have been battling al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

The town was also hit by sectarian violence last year when a suicide bomber blew himself up during the biggest annual religious event of minority Shi'ite Muslims -- Ashura -- killing at least 40 people.

This year, Ashura falls on Tuesday.

REUTERS MS PM1820