Celebrate the Holidays With Mass Murder

Homicide bomber detonates in Pakistan, killing at least 54.

No word whether they used bombs strapped to a baby this time.

At least 54 people were killed Friday in a suicide bombing at a mosque in northwest Pakistan targeting a former interior minister and close ally of President Pervez Musharraf.

The bomber blew himself up in a crowded mosque at the residential compound of Aftab Sherpao, an outspoken opponent of Islamic militancy who until last month was the top civilian anti-terrorism official.

Sherpao was reportedly unhurt in the attack, which hit as the mosque was crowded with Muslim faithful celebrating the first day of the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.

The carnage raised the spectre of a bloody run-up to controversial national elections on January 8, with Musharraf -- a pivotal figure in the US-led "war on terror" -- battling to contain Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked militants.

The president condemned the "distorted thinking" of the militants and ordered the security and intelligence agencies to "track down the masterminds behind this abhorrent act," the official Associated Press of Pakistan said.

"Fifty-four people were killed," district police chief Feroz Shah told AFP. He said the attacker was believed to have been carrying six to seven kilograms (13 to 15 pounds) of explosives.

Naturally, the killer declared his love for Allah at the moment of impact.

Another witness, Jangrez Khan, said the bomber detonated as the prayer leader said "Allahu Akbar," or God is Greatest.