Asuicide bomber wearing an explosives laden jacket killed at least three people including a key security official Pakistani city of Peshawar Wednesday

Attack kills senior Pakistani security officer
By the CNN Wire Staff August 4, 2010 -- Updated 1452 GMT (2252 HKT)
Pakistani security personnel gather by the burning car of Pakistan's Frontier Constabulary chief Sifwat Ghayour

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- A suicide bomber wearing an explosives-laden jacket killed at least three people, including a key security official, in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar Wednesday.

Among the dead was Sifwat Ghayour, commander of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary, said Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a provincial government official. Ghayour had just left his office and his car was stopped at a traffic light when the attack occurred.

The Frontier Constabulary is spearheading the fight against Islamic militants in the northwestern frontier province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is supported by the United States.

At least nine others were injured in the attack.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemned the bombing.

"Violence like this is abhorrent at any time, but especially at this time of crisis," Clinton said, referring to the massive flooding that has killed as many as 1,500 people and affected 3 million others. "I want to convey the condolences of the American people to the Pakistani people in the aftermath of this attack."

In southern Pakistan, the death toll rose Wednesday to 57 in widespread violence that broke out after the killing of a provincial lawmaker. The number of wounded has also gone up -- to 110, said Rafiq Gul, deputy superintendent of Karachi police.

Syed Raza Haider, a leader of the MQM party, was shot Monday evening at a mosque in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi. Haider was attending the funeral of a relative, Gul said. The gunman also killed the politician's bodyguard.

Haider's death triggered political and ethnic violence in the city, as mobs set fire to vehicles and gunfire erupted. Gul said 48 vehicles, eight shops and several gas stations were set ablaze in the mayhem. The MQM is part of the ruling coalition backing President Asif Ali Zardari's Pakistan People's Party.