Suicide bombers detonate early in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Pakistani police reported Wednesday two suicide bombers armed with more than 100 pounds of explosives detonated before reaching their target in Kohat city.

Police said two would-be suicide bombers accidentally blew themselves up when they lost control of their motorcycles 15 miles from Kohat city in North-West Frontier province, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reports.

A bomb squad investigating the detonation area said the men were carrying between 110 and 130 pounds of explosives. Police said they were unsure of their specific target, however.

Pakistani military forces launched a major offensive on the Taliban and other insurgents in their strongholds in the tribal belt along the volatile border with Afghanistan in October.

The Taliban, for their part, had vowed revenge for the death of their leader, Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in August.

Pakistani forces said they captured several areas key to the Taliban during their latest operations.

Military officials said at least 30 militants were killed in the last 24 hours, bringing the insurgent death toll to around 350. As many as 45 Pakistani troops were killed since fighting began on Oct. 17.