Two bombs exploded today in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar killing six people and gunmen on rooftops ambushed police as they arrived at the scene, officials and witnesses said.
The blasts came a day after a suicide gun and bomb attack in the eastern city of Lahore killed 24 people and wounded nearly 300.
The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the Lahore bomb, saying it was in revenge for an army offensive in the Swat region, and threatened more violence.
Militant violence in nuclear-armed Pakistan has surged since mid-2007, with numerous attacks on the security forces, as well as on government and Western targets.
The bombs went off in a crowded market area of Peshawar's old city and caused extensive damage.
Six people were killed and about 70 wounded, provincial government minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour said.
Soon after the blasts, gunmen began firing at police in the area's narrow lanes.
"There are about five gunmen who have taken positions on buildings and an exchange of fire is going on between them and police," said witness Munawar Khan.
Television showed pictures of policemen firing their rifles while colleagues strapped on bullet-proof vests.
The attack appeared to be the lastest in a recent string of more sophisticated militant attacks in Pakistan since a group of gunmen launched a coordinated assault on the Indian financial hub of Mumbai in November.
Yesterday, gunmen carried out a a suicide gun and bomb attack in the city of Lahore killing 24 people and wounding nearly 300.
The Pakistani Taliban earlier claimed responsibility for that attack, saying it was in revenge for an army offensive in the Swat region.
"We have achieved our target. We were looking for this target for a long time. It was a reaction to the Swat
operation," said Hakimullah Mehsud, a militant commander loyal to Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.
The army moved against the Taliban in their Swat valley stronghold late last month after the militants had seized a district only 100km (60 miles) from the capital and a peace pact collapsed.
Reuters