Pakistan attack

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- More than 40 people died in a bombing of a marketplace in Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan.

A police official said a suicide bomber in a vehicle set off the explosives as a bus passed. Many of the victims -- at least 49 dead and more than 100 injured -- were said to be in the bus.

The attack came as the Pakistani military planned for another offensive against Taliban strongholds in South Waziristan, an operation that at least one Pakistani official said will go forward.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said at a news conference: "One thing is clear, these hired assassins called Taliban are to be dealt with more severely.

"I think the incident of today has accelerated this. We think we have no other option except to carry out an operation in South Waziristan because every matter, every incident, whatever is happening, all roads are leading to South Waziristan so I think we'll have to proceed."

Pakistani officials said they arrested a suspect in a suicide bombing at the offices of the World Food Program. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack, which killed five people, saying it would continue to aim such attacks at people working with international organizations.