KARACHI, Pakistan - Police say a bomb has exploded near the office of a political party, which has received threats from the Taleban, killing nine people in southern Pakistan.

Police officer Zafar Bukhari says the bomb was planted on a motorbike near the Awami National Party office in Karachi. The Friday night blast killed nine people, including four children, and wounded 24.

Pakistani Taleban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to The Associated Press from an undisclosed location.

The Taleban have threatened to attack several secular political parties, including the ANP, in the run up to the parliamentary election on May 11.

Previously, the Taleban killed at least two political party representatives and attacked a number of political events, particularly targeting the ANP in the northwest.

(AP)