Suicide bomber leaves 35 dead in attack on Pakistan army base

A suspected Taliban suicide bomb killed at least 35 people in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi today.

The government announced a reward for the capture, dead or alive, of the group's leader after the bomb ripped through a hotel car park in the city.

Pakistan Taliban militants are being squeezed out of their remote strongholds on the Afghan border by a massive army offensive and have retaliated by stepping up bomb attacks and commando-style raids on urban targets.

Today's blast came as the Pakistan government announced rewards of up to £3million for information leading to the capture of Pakistan Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud and more than a dozen other leaders.

The attack in Rawalpindi, a large sprawling city near the smaller, administrative capital, Islamabad, came in an area that is home to the army headquarters as well as hotels.

Officials said many victims were elderly people at a bank to withdraw pensions.

Last month militants attacked the army HQ, taking dozens hostage in a siege that ended with 23 dead.