taken on Sept. 20, 2008 shows the damaged building of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. (Xinhua/Li Jingchen) Photo Gallery>>>

    ISLAMABAD, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that the Prime Minister House was the target of Saturday's truck suicide bomb attack, which killed 53 people.

    Speaking to reporters at the Lahore Airport in eastern Pakistan, Gilani said that the terrorists wanted to hit the Prime Minister House as important personalities including the president and the army chief were present to attend the dinner after a joint session of the parliament.

    "They could not do it due to tight security arrangements," he said.

    Gilani said that it was a big tragedy and he fully condemned such attempts which are aimed at destabilizing democracy, damaging economy and weakening Pakistan.

    When asked as to who are behind the attack, he said, "I can not jump to the conclusion till completion of the enquiry, our main focus is on maintaining law and order and to fight terrorism and extremism."

    Terrorists are doing such acts to highlight presence of nuclear weapons of Pakistan, he said, adding that there is an effective command and control system of nuclear arms in Pakistan and terrorist can never come close to these weapons.

    Referring to foreign investigators, he said that the matter would be looked into in case of need.

    Gilani said that tribal people in Pakistan are patriotic and none of them is terrorist, adding that only a few foreigners are involved in the terrorist acts in Pakistan.

    He also rejected the impression that Pakistan is fighting a war of the U.S., adding that 99 percent killings of such incidents are of Pakistanis, and said that Pakistan is working on its indigenous policy.

China condemns hotel suicide bombing in Pakistan

    BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday condemned the terrorist attack on the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan.

    "China opposes terrorism of any kind. As the friendly neighbor and all-weather friend of Pakistan, China will continue to support the unremitting efforts of Pakistan's government and people to maintain stability," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu. Full story

Suicide attack on Islamabad's hotel kills 38

    ISLAMABAD, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Interior Ministry has said that 38 persons including two foreigners have been killed in a suicide attack on a five-star hotel in the capital.

    The ministry, in a statement issued Sunday, said that Saturday's suicide blast injured some 257 persons including 21 foreigners. The country has been put on red alert after the suicide blast, the statement said. Full story

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