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03/02/2006:

"Blast Kills U.S. Diplomat in Pakistan"

KARACHI, Pakistan -- An apparent suicide bomber detonated explosives outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi Thursday killing four people, including an American diplomat and a Pakistani security officer, and wounding about 50 others, according to officials.

The attack came two days before President Bush is scheduled to visit Pakistan, following his journey to Afghanistan and India. It also followed what Pakistani officials said was a major assault by the Pakistani military that killed 40 to 45 militants in a tribal region of the country.

Bush, at a news conference in New Delhi, said the attack would not alter his travel plans. "We have lost at least one U.S. citizen in the bombing," he said, "a foreign service officer. And I send our country's deepest condolences to that person's loved ones and families. Terrorists and killers are not going to prevent me from going to Pakistan."

Initial reports from officials said a car bomber was apparently attempting to approach the consulate when he was approached by a Pakistani security guard and a security van, which tried to intercept the vehicle.

It then hit the van and exploded, apparently just as the official was entering the building, according to security officials in Karachi.

The blast ripped through a roadside parking lot of the Marriott Hotel, about 65 feet from the consulate gate, wire services said, shattering windows at the consulate and on all 10 floors of the hotel. Ten cars were destroyed, and charred wreckage was flung as far as 200 yards.
washingtonpost.com