At least 25 people were killed in a blast in Pakistan during by-election polling on Sunday, local TV channels reported.

The private Geo TV and the Express News TV reported that 6 children and some policemen were among the injured in the blast which ripped through a polling station in the Buner district in North West Frontier Province.

The reports quoted police sources as saying that the incident was a suicide bomb blast. Police have cordoned off the area.

Polling for a National Assembly seat was going on when the device exploded. The by-election is being held as the seat has fallen vacant due to the death of a member, Abdul Matin Khan.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2008)