(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-17 19:21

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - A suicide bomber blew himself up among a group of Pakistani army recruits returning from a soccer game in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, killing nine of them, the army said.

The attacker struck near an army communications center in Kohat, about 30 miles from the city of Peshawar. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad said nine troops were killed and four were wounded.

The young recruits were walking back to their quarters along a public road when a lone bomber walked up to them and set off the blast.

Police said troops had sealed off the area.

Pakistan has suffered a string of suicide attacks in recent days, most of them targeting security forces.

On Saturday, a suicide bomber on a bicycle killed two soldiers and three civilians outside an army camp in the northwestern city of Nowshera.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but officials blame militants linked to the Taliban and al-Qaida who have expanded their influence in areas near the Afghan border.

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