Suicide Bomber Kills 23 Near Pakistan Capital

A suicide bomber has killed at least 23 people in an attack on a Shi'ite Muslim procession in Pakistan.

Police say they tried to stop and search the attacker as he attempted to join the march in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, but he ran past them and detonated the explosives.

The bomber was also carrying grenades, some of which exploded.

At least 62 people were wounded in the attack, at midnight, including six police officers.

Earlier on Wednesday two bombs went off within minutes outside a Shi'ite mosque in the southern city of Karachi, killing at least one person and wounding several others.

The Pakistani Taliban has said it was responsible for both attacks.

"We carried out the attacks in Rawalpindi and Karachi because the Shi'ite community is engaged in defiling the Prophet," spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said.

The bombings came as Shi'ites observe the holy month of Muharram.

On Saturday, they will observe the holiest day of the month, Ashoura.