Toll From Pakistan Hotel Blast Reaches 53

21 Foreigners, Including 1 American, Among Dead; Taliban Militants Suspected

(CBS/AP)  All morning in the Islamabad morgue grieving families braced themselves to identify, then claim, their loved ones.

In the Muslim tradition, the victims were buried immediately, CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports.

Many of the victims were Islamabad Marriot Hotel staff who had been on duty when the bomb went off just after 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Pakistan's Information Minister, visiting some of the 250 wounded in the city's hospitals, vowed her government is more committed than ever to rooting out terrorism.

"We will not step back from the challenge we have undertaken," said Information Minister Sherry Rehman. "The government will root out terrorism at its heart."

But it's going to have to try harder.

Video from the hotel's security cameras shows the large explosives-packed truck arrive at the Marriott, entirely undetected by Pakistan's secret services.

After it rams the security barrier, whole minutes tick by, before a small blast, said to be the suicide bomber detonating a grenade.

A brave guard tries to put the fire out. Then gives up before the whole truck explodes, destroying the hotel.

So who planned this carnage?

So far, no one has claimed responsibility. But both the Pakistani and U.S. governments say the attack shows hallmarks of Al Qaeda, though they acknowledge that could implicate any number of extremist groups, some of them allied with the Taliban on Pakistan's rugged border with Afghanistan, and all of them at war with the Pakistani army, NATO and US troops.

Tonight what's left of the Islamabad Marriott Hotel is an eerie and charred ruin, Palmer reports from Pakistan. Rescue crews say they think they have all the bodies out now but this story is far from over. The blast shocked Pakistan to its very core and has dramatically raised the stakes in its fight against terrorism.

Rescuers continued to pull bodies from the shell of the hotel on Sunday, including the Czech ambassador.

A favorite spot for foreigners and the Pakistani elite - and a previous target of militants - still smoldered from a fire that raged for hours after the previous day's explosion, which also wounded more than 250 people.

The targeting of the American hotel chain came at a time of growing anger in the Muslim nation over a wave of cross-border strikes on militant bases in Pakistan by U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Analysts said the attack served as a warning from Islamic militants to Pakistan's new civilian leadership to stop cooperating with the U.S.-led war on terror.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said the bomber had attacked the hotel only after tight security prevented him from reaching Parliament or the prime minister's office, where the president and many dignitaries were gathered for dinner.

"The purpose was to destabilize democracy," Gilani said. "They want to destroy us economically."

On Sunday Pakistan announced measures to beef up security across the country under a new plan for big cities which will go into effect beginning Monday, reports CBS News' Farhan Bokhari.

The new security plan appears to be an effort to prevent a recurrence of the kind of attack that targeted the Marriott which has shaken the foundations of Pakistan’s ruling establishment.

Rehman Malik, the adviser on interior affairs to prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani - a position that makes Malik the de facto interior minister - said that the evidence so far gathered from the scene of Saturday’s attack point towards the involvement of the Taliban movement, which has its stronghold in the southern part of the Waziristan region, along the Afghan border.

Malik said that Saturday’s attack was caused by the use of about 600 kilograms of explosives. The effect of the attack became greater as the bomber also packed the explosives with aluminum powder and artillery rounds, which added significantly to the effect of the explosion, and caused a fire with soaring temperatures after the attack.

In response to a question on a reported U.S. offer to send an FBI team to assist Pakistan with the investigations, Malik said; “We don’t need any help, we reject it. We have our own investigation services."

Malik’s statement coincided with widening concerns over more attacks likely to come in the coming days, as Pakistan’s government steps up its attacks on Taliban hideouts along the Afghan border.

On Tuesday, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari is due to meet with U.S. President George Bush on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, with the war on terror likely to be their main focus of discussion.

Western diplomats in Islamabad said Saturday’s attack was likely to intensify pressure on Zardari to oversee a tough new effort to curb the activities of Islamic militants.

The Taliban movement which is at the center of suspicions for backing Saturday’s attack is led by Baitullah Mehsud, a militant commander who has forged close links to Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda movement.

The owner of the hotel accused security forces of a serious lapse in allowing a dump truck to approach the hotel unchallenged and not shooting the driver before he could trigger the explosives.

"If I were there and had seen the suicide bomber, I would have killed him. Unfortunately, they didn't," Sadruddin Hashwani said.

Officials said vehicles carrying construction materials are allowed to move after sunset, meaning the sight of a dump truck near the government quarters might not have aroused suspicion.

Rescue teams searched the blackened hotel room by room Sunday. But the temperatures remained high, and fires were still being put out in some parts. Officials said the main building could still collapse.

Khalid Hussain Abbasi, a rescue official, confirmed that six new bodies had been found, but would not say if any belonged to foreigners. He said he expected more charred remains to be discovered.

Gilani said the death toll had reached "about 53" and that Czech Ambassador Ivo Zdarek was among the dead. Zdarek, 47, only moved to Islamabad in August after four years as ambassador to Vietnam.

At least one American also died in the attack, according to the U.S. State Department. Officials in Pakistan said at least 21 foreigners were among the wounded, including Britons, Germans, Americans and several people from the Middle East.

TV footage showed at least two bodies partially visible from the wrecked facade Sunday morning. Outside, the hotel was surrounded by torched vehicles and debris.

The bomb went off close to 8 p.m. Saturday, when the restaurants inside would have been packed with Muslim diners breaking their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

The blast left a vast crater some 30 feet deep in front of the main building, and investigators on Sunday combed the gaping hole for evidence. The bombing came just hours after President Asif Ali Zardari made his first address to Parliament, less than a mile away from the hotel.

Witnesses and officials said the dump truck exploded about 60 feet away from the hotel at two heavy metal barriers blocking the entrance. The explosion reverberated throughout Islamabad and shattered windows hundreds of yards away.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told The Associated Press it was unclear who was behind the attack. But authorities had received intelligence there might be militant activity linked to Zardari's address to Parliament and security had been tightened, he said.

The attack drew condemnations from around the world, including the United States, which has pressured Pakistan to do more to wipe out militant hide-outs on its side of the Afghan border. Washington worries about Taliban and al Qaeda fighters using Pakistan as a training, recruiting and regrouping ground to aid the insurgency in Afghanistan.

U.S. President George W. Bush said the attack was "a reminder of the ongoing threat faced by Pakistan, the United States, and all those who stand against violent extremism."

A recent series of suspected U.S. missile strikes and a rare American ground assault in Pakistan's northwest have signaled Washington's impatience with Pakistan's efforts to clear out militants. But the cross-border operations have drawn protests from the Pakistani government, which warned they would fan militancy.

Terrorism researcher Evan Kohlmann told the AP the attack was almost certainly the work of either al Qaeda or the Pakistani Taliban.

"It seems that someone has a firm belief that hotels like the Marriott are serving as 'barracks' for Western diplomats and intel personnel, and they are gunning pretty hard for them," Kohlmann said.

[downsteamjim]

This was just the lovable and peaceful Allah asking for room service.

[pirmin3]

Too bad Kindasleazy hadn''t checked in on one of her useless world tours.

[andrew_693]

I guess this is just as peaceful and loving as the over 65 afghan civilians killed by "mistake" by US air force.

[andrew_693]

I guess this is the way of al quaeda saying "we want to help the republicans build their oil pipeline and we are helping to clear the place"......as the election approaches I''m very sure we will be seeing al quaeda and the cia blowing up more buildings to keep the morons in the US scared under their beds. I wonder if they are going to create another 9-11 so toby keith and brittney spears can revive their musical carreers on the shoulders of the typical idiots.

[swwils]

To andrew-693 Bombing an embassy is supposed to be off limits,way before Iran took ours under siege many moons ago.We make mistakes when we accidentally blow up something wrong,but most usually apologize with the quick-ness.These suicide bombers are barbarians,and insane so they must be dealt with with extreme predjudice.War s.u.c.k.s I agree innocece is lost daily.We can''t allow this type of radical groups terrorizing our free world.They will certainly pay for this violation,they chose to fight this way so retaliation is coming.Probably already has we just don''t know yet.I served in the Army Special Forces,and I have seen some of the atrocities these islamic freaks have done in the name of Allah,and no way would God wish this upon his creation.

[runningralph]

It is a basic tenet of Islam to attack infidels and usurp their property if the infidels refuse the invitation to accept Allah. America has been invited to accept Allah and has not done so. Whatever happens to infidels who ignore Allah is Allah''s will. Moslems who are caught in these attacks will get their reward in heaven. The only way to stop these attacks is for Americe to accept Islam.

[beehive21-2009]

The cowards killed a lot of innocent people,that''s what they do best ,killing like the devil in the night.This is another display of the inhumanity of the Muslims and the insanity ,programmed into the robots of death.

[boredwell]

the international community is quick to condemn. but also too quick to blame the ubiquitous villians -taliban or al-queda. both entities i humbly suspect are not guilty. my circumspection arises from the most recent changes in pakistan. new president. new leadership. old animosities. jihadist sympathies rampant in the populace and the government. american''s meddling in pakistan''s internal affairs results in its unfelicitous public persona. america is an intervening power. OUR enemies objectives beat in the hearts of the pakistani. the most salient feature of this attack is that america continues to strongarm an islamic status quo. one that is resistant, virulently so, to interdiction. this is fact. when will america begin to comprehend that it is in our best interests to back off and implement less over bearing requests (commands)?changing our direction and the way we do business could be a beginning of something called moderation in all things.

[pirmin3]

"...but also too quick to blame the ubiquitous villians -taliban or al-queda."

Very true. I think if someone ***-s in an elevator Bush will blame al-queda and raise a crimson alert for a chemical weapon attack.

[jgg000]

"...but also too quick to blame the ubiquitous villians -taliban or al-queda."

Very true. I think if someone ***-s in an elevator Bush will blame al-queda and raise a crimson alert for a chemical weapon attack.

Posted by pirmin3

I think it''s more likely that if someone gets stuck in an elevator, they''ll blame Bush.

[jgg000]

America has been invited to accept Allah and has not done so. Whatever happens to infidels who ignore Allah is Allah''''s will. Moslems who are caught in these attacks will get their reward in heaven. The only way to stop these attacks is for Americe to accept Islam.

Posted by runningralph

the problem is not America accepting islam. The problem is islam not accepting anything that isn''t islam. Those invitations they send are real attention-getters.

[petro49l]

Osama is safe and sound in Waziristan. Islamabad has sent the Pakistani Army to protect his sanctuary. The Coalition is helpless.

[tonysp2]

Marriott shouldn''t have to pay for George w bush''s sins of invading and bombing Pakistan.

[clay_nc]

see Obama saying here what he will do to our military in a time of war .... very scary !!!
www.calebgrace.com

McCain / Palin ''''08

[tapsettle]

More blood on the hands of Bush and Cheney, and the americans who elected them. You dont need to have much intelligence to realise that these two warmongers have increased terrorism in their pursuit of corporate wealth. You need a similar amount of brains to figure out that electing them in the first place would lead to all this tragedy. Is america now collectively the dumbest country on the planet? I think so, and its not even close.

[noloyalisti]

see Obama saying here what he will do to our military in a time of war .... very scary !!!
www.calebgrace.com

McCain / Palin ''''''''08

Posted by Clay_nc at 07:22 PM : Sep 21, 2008

Fear mongering racist morons like this should leave America now. Or at least go into their trailers in he midwest or deep south or wherever ignorant fools hang out. There is not one good reason to elect a Republicon, least of all more white trash like McSame and Quaylin Palin.

[beehive21-2009]

The Waziristan region,shall become ashes,the Taliban must be terminated,asap.

Taliban movement, which has its stronghold in the southern part of the Waziristan region, along the Afghan border.

The Taliban ,are not the first desperadoes we''ve had too eliminate,or the last.A mushroom is on the way.

[petro49l]

The Pakistani Army is openly fighting with the Coalition. They will protect Bin Laden in his Waziristan sanctuary. Osama continues to export tar heroin from the region''s exotic poppies. Terror Groups around the world are receiving funds through the Internet. The Coalition should face the facts. They easily could be at war with Pakistan, Iran, and Russia. George W. Bush might prefer to use missiles instead of ground troops.

[renojmc]

The Evangelical Xians WANT Armageddon so they can have the "rapture" and they are, pun intended, hell-bent to bring it about.

They are succeeding.

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 06:00 AM : Sep 22, 2008
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Wow. This is about the evils of Islam and you''re blaming Christians? Get a clue.

[tapsettle]

Wow. This is about the evils of Islam and you''''re blaming Christians? Get a clue.
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Posted by renojmc

This never was about the ''evils of Islam'' but I dont suppose you will ever realise that. The endgame is approaching and america is collapsing financially, overstretched militarily, discredited globally. Congratulations on being one of the dumbarses that helped to bring all that about.

[notblue]

tapsettle, you liberals siding with the enemy in order to gain politically with your constent critisisms have done more to destroy Amercia than any other entity, I hope your proud of where you people have brought America, I hope your proud of the massive divide you have created. It will be interesting to see how it goes in the future with your philosophy of hate@!