In Pakistan, at least 41 people were killed in bomb blasts in Peshawar and Timergara town in north-western area. In the first blast, 38 people died in a suspected suicide attack at a rally in north-western town of Timergara in Lower Dir district where Awami National Party was holding a meeting to celebrate the government's decision to rename the North-Western Frontier Province as Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa. <br/>Earlier in the day, three people died after suspected militants attacked the US consulate in another north-western city of Peshawar. There were several explosions in the area near the consulate and buildings collapsed. A gun battle between police and the attackers followed. The explosions took place near Shama Square, a major crossroads at the northern end of Peshawar's cantonment area, near the US consulate. There are also some army barracks and offices of the army's Military Intelligence in the vicinity. Pakistan's main Taliban faction said it carried out the attack, and that the US consulate was the target. Officials said the attack was well organised but order had been restored. US officials also confirmed the consulate was the target of the attack.