Suicide bomber kills 15 in Pakistan, minister hurt

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Apr 28 (Reuters) A suicide bomber killed about 15 people in Pakistan and wounded several others, including Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, a senior government official said today.

The blast took place as people gathered around the minister at the end of a public meeting in Charsada, a town 20 km northeast of Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province.

''According to initial reports coming from the scene it was a suicide attack,'' Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah told Aaj Television. He said about 15 people were killed.

Bacha Gul Wazir, home secretary of the province, told Reuters he saw blood on the minister's face, but a central government official said there were no fears for his life.

''He is slightly wounded. He is stable. He is talking to people on the telephone,'' Tasnim Aslam, a foreign ministry spokeswoman, said.

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