Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday strongly condemned the bomb blast in a northwestern city and said that such attacks have only strengthened the resolve of the people and the government to root out the militants once and for all.

A bomb blast in a busy market killed at least eight people and injured over 20 in the city of Dera Ismail Khan in North West Frontier Province, District Coordination Officer Syed Mohsin Shah said.

Zardari said that militants will be held accountable and brought to justice for each drop of the blood they have shed of the innocent people, a statement from the President office said.

Zardari directed that compensation be paid immediately to the families of victims and the injured be treated in hospitals at government expense.

Source: Xinhua