Pakistan militants threaten more bombs

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-25 11:10

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- A militant group that claimed responsibility for the deadly Marriott Hotel bombing in Pakistan's capital has threatened more attacks, reiterating a warning that Pakistanis should stop cooperating with the United States.

Pakistani schoolchildren are admitted in a hospital after they were injured in a suicide attack in Quetta, Pakistan on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008. [Agencies]

In a cell phone message to reporters on Wednesday, the little known group calling itself "Fedayeen al-Islam", "Islam commandos", referred to the owner of the Marriott in Islamabad by name.

"All those who will facilitate Americans and NATO crusaders like (owner Sadruddin) Haswani, they will keep on receiving the blows," said the message in English.

It was impossible to verify the identity of the group or say whether it was in a position to make good on the threat. Pakistani officials were not immediately available for comment.

The group demanded that Pakistan break with Washington in an earlier message that claimed responsibility for Saturday's truck bombing that killed 53 people and wounded more than 270.

Little or nothing is known about the group. Pakistani officials suspect al-Qaida or Taliban militants carried out the bombing.

The attack underscored the threat posed by Islamic extremists, many of whom are based in the lawless, tribal regions along northwestern Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.

Concerned about the possibility of further attacks, the US State Department has announced it is prohibiting all American government personnel from staying at or even visiting major hotels in Islamabad and the key cities of Karachi and Peshawar, and told them to stay away from restaurants as well. In addition, a notice from the US Embassy in Islamabad urged American citizens working or visiting there to take similar precautions.

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