Suicide bomber kills 20 soldiers, police in NW Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, April 18, 2009 (AFP) - A suicide attacker detonated a car bomb at a checkpoint in a northwestern Pakistan town Saturday, killing at least 20 troops and policemen, officials said.

The attack on the security forces checkpoint took place in Doaba, a town in restive Hangu tribal district, some 70 kilometers (43 miles) southwest of provincial capital Peshawar, an official said, not far from the Afghan border.

"At least 20 security forces members and policemen were killed in the suicide attack," a security official told AFP.

"The attack occurred at 4:10pm (1010 GMT)," an official confirmed.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the area, which lies close to Pakistan's lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and police were unable to identify the bomber.