LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), July 12: An explosion of moderate intensity damaged the main gate and boundary wall of a healthcare centre in Landi Kotal early on Thursday. The explosive device had been planted by unidentified saboteurs at the main gate of the centre that went off at around 5.15am, an official said. The blast caused panic in the area and many residents rushed out of their homes, an eyewitness Pervez Khan said.

Officials confirmed that the explosion had damaged the main gate and boundary wall of the mother-child healthcare centre.

No one was hurt in the incident as staff members were not present at the time of blast, the official said, adding that the local administration had registered a case against the unknown saboteurs and started investigation.

The blast was the second of its kind since the July 3 military operation against the Lal Masjid in Islamabad. Earlier, unknown miscreants had fired four missiles at an army camp on July 5.

The local administration had arrested 10 Khugakhel tribesmen on charges of the missile attack under the collective Territorial Responsibility clause of Frontier Crimes Regulation.

Demonstrations

The Jamaat-i-Islami and local religious organisations organised demonstrations at Landi Kotal and Jamrud to protest against the military operation against Lal Masjid in Islamabad and the killing of Maulana Abdur Rashid Ghazi and his supporters.

Hundreds of protesters chanted slogans against President Gen Pervez Musharraf and demanded his resignation.