Pakisan News:

Pakistan suicide attack 'blocked
26 November 2010 Last updated at 11:07 GMT

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Police in Pakistan have prevented two would-be suicide bombers from attacking a mosque and government buildings in the capital, Islamabad, officials say.

One of the two men was wearing an explosives vest and was on his way to bomb a mosque during Friday prayers, a police official said.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said the mosque was in an upmarket residential neighbourhood.

The other target was the parliament and nearby offices, he said.

"We have foiled a plot to attack parliament and surrounding buildings, and a mosque and arrested two militants," Mr Malik told state-run Pakistan Television.

He said the mosque was in the F8-1 residential district, home to many wealthy Pakistanis and Westerners.

Authorities learned of a possible attack late on Thursday and stepped up security around the parliament building, Mr Malik said.

"We took all the required measure without creating a panic," he added.

Police official Bin Yamin told AP news agency the suspects were connected to the Pakistani Taliban in South Waziristan.

In December last year the Pakistani army declared victory following a major two-month offensive against the Taliban in the tribal region, which borders Afghanistan.

But attacks by militants in the region have continued, while drone air strikes on their suspected hideouts take place on an almost daily basis. (BBC)

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