By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A bombing outside the emergency gate of a hospital crowded with Shiite Muslim mourners in Pakistan's volatile northwest killed at least 23 people and wounded 15 Tuesday, officials said.
The motive for the blast in Dera Ismail Khan District appeared to be sectarian, with the Shiites the apparent targets, said Mohsin Shah, a top district official.
The attack occurred a day after Pervez Musharraf stepped down as Pakistan's president, adding to uncertainty about how the country's new government will deal with growing extremist violence.
It also came as more killings were reported in a northwest tribal region where military clashes with insurgents have reportedly left hundreds dead and spurred promises of militant revenge.