Pakistan blast 'kills at least 35'

Meanwhile, the UN said spreading violence in the country had forced it to suspend long-term development work in the northwest regions along the Afghan border.

Islamist insurgents have carried out numerous attacks in Pakistan in recent weeks, killing some 250 people in retaliation for an army offensive in the Pakistan Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan.

The bloodshed, some of which has targeted aid workers, has threatened Western goals of reducing extremism's allure by improving Pakistan's economy.

Monday's explosion in Rawalpindi, a garrison city just a few miles from Islamabad, left bodies on the ground outside the bank and in a nearby hotel carpark, witness Zahid Dara said. The stricken area also lies close to the Army's main headquarters.

The attacker rode a motorbike to the scene, and the 35 people dead included military personnel, Rawalpindi police chief Rao Iqbal said. Some 45 others were wounded.

Pakistan's president, prime minister and other top officials condemned the blast but vowed to continue the offensive in South Waziristan, an impoverished and underdeveloped tribal region next to Afghanistan where al Qaida is believed to have hideouts.

News reports later said at least 15 people were injured when a bomb went off near a police checkpoint on the outskirts of Lahore.

City police chief Pervaiz Rathor confirmed that a bomb exploded but had no information on casualties. TV news channels are reporting at least 15 people were hurt.

Mohammad Saeed, a police constable, told Geo TV he saw a car approach the checkpoint and then explode.