Landmine blast kills 26 in southwestern Pakistan

At least 26 people were killed in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province early Friday when their vehicle was hit by a landmine, a provincial government spokesman said.

Seven others were injured in the incident near the Rakhni area, some 300 kilometers east of Quetta, the provincial capital, at 8: 30 a.m. local time, Raziq Bugti, provincial government spokesman told reporters in Quetta.

Women and children are among the victims, who were going to attend a marriage ceremony, Bugti said.

The marriage party was going to the Lakri village from Bekar, two small towns in the area.

A total of 35 people were traveling the trolley, the spokesman said.

The victims belonged to the Mesuri tribe, the opponents of anti- government tribal leader Akbar Bugti, the spokesman said.

Members of the Mesuri tribe were expelled from the area allegedly by the Bugti tribe but they returned to their areas last month.

No one has claimed responsibility of the attack but such incidents are blamed on anti-government renegade tribesmen.

The blast happened hours after rocket attacks on a gas field in the Dera Bugti area but there was no casualty. Reports said that unidentified people fired 30 rockets on the Loti gas filed.

Source: Xinhua