Pakistan 'at war'

Pakistani officials are moving swiftly to use the suicide bombing of a luxury hotel in their campaign to build public support for military offensives against the Taleban, saying the country is at war.

Militants attacked three Army bases in a tribal region where Pakistan's Taleban commander is based, triggering a shootout that left 20 insurgents and three soldiers dead.

The clashes in South Waziristan raised the odds that Pakistan would launch an offensive there.