64 killed in suicide blast at factory

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside Pakistan's main army munitions factory overnight, killing 64 workers.

In the second bombing to rock the feuding Coalition Government since president Pervez Musharraf resigned on Monday, the attackers struck a crowd of workers leaving the huge complex in Wah, 32km west of Islamabad, after their shift.

The Taliban claimed responsibility and threatened to carry out more suicide bombings if an army offensive against militants near the Afghan border was not stopped.

"It's a massive attack," local police chief Nasir Durrani said.

"Two men apparently blew themselves up outside the factory during a shift change. The bombers were on foot and they exploded themselves less than a minute apart."

"The death toll has gone up to 64," local police officer Shafiq Ahmed said.

Earlier the factory in a statement put the toll at 59 dead and 67 wounded.

Workers were streaming through the gates of the tightly guarded factory during a shift change when the two bombs exploded. The force of the explosions knocked many people to the ground and sprayed others with shrapnel.