The European Union's foreign affairs chief Monday condemned attacks in Pakistan which killed 46 people, including a strike against the US consulate in Peshawar, calling it a bid to undermine democracy. Catherine Ashton "condemns the attacks in Pakistan and deplores this violence which is an attempt to undermine democracy in Pakistan and the wider region," her spokesman said.
She "sends her condolences to all those affected by the attacks and expresses the EU's solidarity with the Pakistani authorities." Pakistan's Taliban claimed responsibility for the consulate attack which killed five security personnel, saying it was to avenge a US drone war targeting top militants in Pakistan's border areas with Afghanistan, and threatened further assaults on Americans.
At least four militants armed with explosives and two cars rigged into bombs targeted the heavily guarded US consulate in Peshawar, a city of 2.5 million on the edge of Pakistan's lawless tribal belt, setting off multiple explosions. Also Monday, a suicide bomber attacked an open-air political rally in the north-west district of Lower Dir, where Pakistan waged a major offensive against local Taliban insurgents last year. The attack killed 41 people during a celebration organised by the leading secular political party in the region.
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