Pakistan Taliban vow more attacks

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- Pakistan's Taliban, claiming responsibility for two separate bombings this week that killed about 100 people, have vowed more such attacks.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up Thursday outside Pakistan's sprawling weapons plant at Wah, north of Islamabad. CNN, quoting police, reported the death toll from the blasts has climbed to 100 people with another 80 wounded.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan of Baitullah Mehsud claimed responsibility for the attack, Dawn newspaper reported. The group had also claimed responsibility for the Tuesday suicide bomb attack that killed 30 people near the emergency ward of a hospital in Dera Ismail Khan in North-West Frontier Province.

Speaking to Dawn, a Taliban spokesman warned of more such attacks in Pakistan's cities if the military does not end its anti-terrorism operations in Bajaur and other tribal areas.

The bomb attacks come as the country's fragile coalition seeks to take control of the country following Monday's resignation of President Pervez Musharraf, with fighting rising terrorism now its biggest challenge.

U.S. President George W. Bush assured to Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Reza Gila in a telephone call the United States will work with his government in fighting the extremists, CNN reported.

Police Chief Nasir Khan Durrani said none of those killed in Thursday's blasts was military personnel, the BBC said.

Police said they found a "suicide vest" in a restroom at a nearby mosque and arrested a suspect. A belt carrying explosives also was also found in the mosque, the report said.