Four Killed By Blast In Northwest Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -- At least four people have been killed in northwestern Pakistan in a suspected suicide bomb attack aimed at a prominent ethnic Pashtun politician, police and media said.

"Many wounded are lying on the ground. We have two policemen and two civilians killed," said a police officer in the town of Charsadda where the attack took place.

Television news channels said a suspected suicide bomber blew himself up when he was blocked from entering a guest house where Asfandyar Wali Khan, leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), was holding a meeting.

The ANP is an ethnic Pashtun party based in the northwest and forms part of the ruling coalition government.

The party is liberal-leaning and fiercely opposed to Islamist militants waging a bloody campaign against the government.

A top party official told the Geo television channel that Khan was safe.