Suicide bombers hit Pakistani weapons factory

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, which is one of the bloodiest yet in Pakistan's intensifying war with militant Islamist groups that are also destabilising the pro-Western Karzai regime in Afghanistan.

The bombers struck at two different gates just as workers were leaving the sprawling arms facility in the garrision city of Wah.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Maulvi Umar said that the suicide bombings were revenge for air strikes in Bajur, a militant stronghold near the Afghan border.

At least 200,000 civilians have been forced to flee their homes as Islamabad presses on with a nearly two-week-old offensive there.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said last week that Pakistani intelligence has reports that about 3,000 armed militants from Pakistan, Afghanistan and central Asia are present in Bajur.

The Pakistani military claims that it has killed over 400 guerillas so far and that it has lost just 22 soldiers.

Witnesses in the region have reported a large number of civilian deaths.

Mr Umar warned that militants would carry out similar attacks in other major cities, including Islamabad and Karachi, unless the military halts its operations.

"Only innocent people die when the Pakistan army carries out air strikes in Bajur or Swat," he said, referring to a mountain valley where the army has vowed to clear out militants who have kidnapped and killed police and troops and burned girls' schools.

"If the army is really fond of fighting, it should send ground forces to see how we fight," Mr Umar added.