U.S. Diplomat Killed by Karachi Bomb

A car bomb exploded outside the American consulate in Karachi, killing an U.S. diplomat and at least four other people on Thursday. Also, more than 50 people were injured in a Marriott hotel parking lot in the apparent suicide attack.

The blast came 2 days before Bush is scheduled to hold talks in Pakistan, though Karachi is not an objective on his agenda. Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad stated: "There was a first blast, then after 5, 10 minutes there was ... a second one."

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Shairpao informed that the attack appears to be that of a suicide bomber that aimed at hitting the U.S. Foreign Service officer. The blast took place as the diplomat approached the parking lot in his car, the suicide bomber crashing into the car and tossing the diplomat's car over the wall. The first blast started at around 9:15 a.m and was closely followed by the second explosion.

Bush announced the death of the diplomat in a conference in New Delhi with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, stating: "I send our country's deepest condolences to that person's loved one and family. We also send the condolences to the people of Pakistan who lost their lives."

"Terrorists and killers are not going to prevent me from going to Pakistan," he said, adding that this shows the war on terrorism must continue. Bush will visit Pakistan's capital Islamabad, where drastic measures of security have been taken, some of the areas being declared red zones where the access is permitted only to authorized people.