Tribes raze Taliban houses

HANGU - The death toll of suicide attack on the Jirga of Alikhel tribe in Aurakzai Agency reached 80 on Saturday while the condition of several injured persons was reported precarious. However, some TV channels put the death toll at 112.

"So far the death of around 80 persons have been confirmed", Haji Gul Karim, Naib Nazim District Hangu, told TheNation. Haji Gul Karim himself belongs to Ali Khel tribe.

Giving details of the casualties, Gul Karim said, "Around 70 dead bodies have been identified while over one dozen have been mutilated badly and are beyond recognition". He further added that 10 persons were still missing.

He also informed that approximately 300 persons were injured in the suicide blast and over 120 are under treatment in various hospitals.

Meanwhile, almost all the dead persons were laid to rest in their local graveyards. Hundreds of people attended the funerals.

Agencies add: Angry tribesmen traded fire with Taliban militants and demolished their houses in a tribal region after a suicide attack killed at least 80 people at a jirga, residents and officials said on Saturday.

The bomber drove his explosive-laden car into the middle of a tribal council meeting in Orakzai tribal region on Friday where hundreds of tribesmen were discussing a government-backed plan to raise a lashkar to evict militants.

"Everyone is angry and upset here. The tribesmen attacked houses of the Taliban in Khadizai after the bombing. Two houses have been demolished," said Noorzad Orakzai, a resident of the Khadizai area where the attack took place.

"There have been exchanges of fire throughout the night. It's still going on," he added.

Meanwhile, tribesmen buried their dead on Saturday.

Many villages and towns near where the jirga was held were in mourning Saturday as they buried their dead, residents told AFP.