The tribal area of bujaur is near pakistans border with afghanistan. Its not immediately clear what caused the explosion, though Police Suspect it was a Suicide Bomber. No organisation has admitted carrying out the attack. With more on this lets cross to the newsroom and our south asia editor, anbarasan ethirajan. Hundreds of people had gathered for a gathering of a hardline islamist Political Party in pakistan which is part of the governing coalition. There was suddenly an explosion. Some people have been killed, and more than 200 injured. A local hospital was struggling to cope with the incoming casualties. Many people are being taken to other parts of the district and do the provincial capital peshawar. This could be a Suicide Attack but no group has admitted carrying out the attack or responsibility for this incident. At the moment the priority for the authorities is to provide care and treatment for those who have been injured in this blast. And again, as we know, we had been discussing this deteriorating Security Situation in North West Pakistan in the past 6 8 months after one of the Islamist Militant Groups, Pakistani Taliban, called off their ceasefire, with the Pakistani Security forces and since then there have been a number of attacks on Security Forces and military compounds. It attacks on Security Forces and military compounds. Attacks on Security Forces and military compounds. It takes a while to verify these military compounds. It takes a while to verify these videos, military compounds. It takes a while to verify these videos, but military compounds. It takes a while to verify these videos, but from military compounds. It takes a while to verify these videos, but from you | to verify these videos, but from you have seen, it seems like hundreds of people were inside a tent, quite a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere and then theres explosion in the background which suggest that this theory of a Suicide Bomber could be true. ,. ,. Theory of a Suicide Bomber could be true. ,. , true. That is what Police Suspect, that this could true. That is what Police Suspect, that this could be true. That is what Police Suspect, that this could be a true. That is what Police Suspect, that this could be a suicide true. That is what Police Suspect, i that this could be a Suicide Bombing because this happened very close to the stage where many of these leaders of this faction, they were talking and now with a number of casualties, we understand the number of more than 200 injured and the number of deaths also is likely to rise. It is not the first time this particular party has come under attack, some leaders of the party. In fact the leader of the party was attacked in 2011 and 2014, and some of the extremist militant groups they carried out the attack and on one occasion the Islamist Militant Group in south asia carried out an attack in matt ritchie province when some from thejiu party were killed. They are strongly opposed to the drone attacks carried out by us forces during their war on terror, when they were targeting many of the militant groups in areas bordering pakistan and afghanistan and this particular district of bajaur is very close to afghanistan and that is why the pakistani government accuse that some of these Pakistani Taliban militants, that they are inside afghanistan, carrying out these cross border attacks, a claim thatis these cross border attacks, a claim that is denied by the taliban authorities. In that is denied by the taliban authorities. That is denied by the taliban authorities. ,. , authorities. In terms of where we stand now. Authorities. In terms of where we stand now, the authorities. In terms of where we stand now, the juif authorities. In terms of where we stand now, the juif leader authorities. In terms of where we stand now, the juif leader wants | authorities. In terms of where we i stand now, the juif leader wants an stand now, Thejuif Leader wants an inquiry but there is a Health Emergency going on, it sounds like local Health Services are simply overwhelmed. Local Health Services are simply overwhelmed. ,. ,. ,. , overwhelmed. This is a small town, and the local overwhelmed. This is a small town, and the local health overwhelmed. This is a small town, and the local health clinics, overwhelmed. This is a small town, and the local health clinics, we overwhelmed. This is a small town, and the local health clinics, we saw| and the local health clinics, we saw the results on social media were injured people were waiting in the hallways, waiting to get the attention in hospitals and that is why the government has declared a Health Emergency for the district of bajaur, and many people are being taken to private clinics in peshawar and in the meantime, adherents of Thisjui Party have been requesting on social media for people to donate blood because many have suffered severe injuries because of this blast, and they have blood loss, and thatis blast, and they have blood loss, and that is why they have been urging people to donate blood, so this is indeed a Health Emergency for people indeed a Health Emergency for people in bajaur district. In bajaur district. Anbarasan ethirajan. In bajaur district. Anbarasan ethirajan, thank in bajaur district. Anbarasan ethirajan, thank you. Click the Economic Community of West African States has agreed to impose immediate financial sanctions on the leaders of the Military Coup in niger. After a meeting in neighbouring nigeria, the bloc known as ecowas gave the junta a week to hand back power, and said it wouldnt rule out the use of force. Nigers ambassador to the United States told the bbc he would welcome Military Intervention if a peaceful solution was not reached. The bloc has also imposed a no fly zone on all commercial flights to and from niger, and closed all land borders between niger and member countries. Thousands of protesters have gathered outside the French Embassy in niamey, the capital of niger, in support of the Military Coup. Many demonstrators were seen with placards calling for the departure of French Forces from niger, and shouting pro russian slogans. Theres been speculation that the coup leaders have enlisted the support of the russian mercenary group, wagner, which is active in other african countries. A group of protesters tried to break into the embassy by smashing doors and starting a fire. The french president , emmanuel macron, said he would not tolerate any attack against france or its interests. French soldiers used teargas to disperse the area. Five people were reportedly injured. Translation during 12 years nothing has changed, so this is why we took to the streets and decided to kick the president out. Also let me be clear, we also send a message to france and macron, that niger belongs to us and not to him. We are free to discuss with whoever we want. Is this clear . The West African Bloc, ecowas, had better not try and interfere in this process. Translation should the West African Bloc ecowas come and intervene militarily, it would simply be on the wrong side of history, plain and simple. It would even steer them away from their core mission which is to create a stable environment for the whole region to grow. Niagale bagayoko is chair of the African Security sector network, which works to promote democratic government and security for african countries. I asked her whether or not the sanctions would work. Ecowas has already tried to threaten Military Coup perpetrators to intervene, but i think that at this time ecowas has already tried to threaten Military Coup perpetrators to intervene, but i think that at this time there might be some change to see the organisation mobilise its own intervention mechanism. Because today there are more West African States which might be ready to put some troops or logistical capacities to support such an intervention. And especially new nigeria president , tinubu, who made clear when he took power that he would not accept any coup in the the region. So is there any precedent for how troops could enter niger or be used within the country by ecowas . No, ithink, you know, you have very clear procedures that have been installed within ecowas. Military options which will have to be planned very carefully and different kinds of Intervention Scenarios will be proposed to the government of ecowas. France obviously has a key role in all of this. President macron has said it is an illegitimate and dangerous coup. But if his warnings are ignored, if nothing happens within a week and the attempted coup leaders, the juntas as ecowas calls them, remain in place, what else can france do . France in particular has a very, very big problem today in niger. Because when it used to be deployed in mali or in burkina faso, it was operating in a consciously autonomous way, meaning that it was not referring to the political nor Military Malian or burkinabe authority to conduct its own operation. But today, in niger, that is completely different. You have 1500 French Military staff which have been put under Nigerian Military command, which is in fact planning the operations and asking support to those french staff. French staff really in the Chain Of Command presently in niger are under the authority of those who had committed a coup three days ago. So france will have to clarify very, very quickly such a very dangerous situation. The latest on that coup in niger on the latest on that coup in niger on the bbc news website. Here in the uk, the Prime Minister, rishi sunak says he is on the side of car drivers and says he wants Anti Motorist measures to be reviewed. Mr sunak told the Sunday Telegraph that he has ordered a review a car into reduced car use in streets in some residential areas. It comes after the conservatives won a recent byelection like in uxbridge in west london with the victory widely credited his partys opposition to plans to extend the capitals ultra low Emission Zone to apply to more road users in the capital. Heres our Political Correspondent tony bonsignore. The bollards, the planters, the number plate recognition cameras. If you live in or near a low traffic neighbourhood which uses all these tactics and Motor Control or limit access to some streets, you will almost certainly have a strong opinion about them. This, it is a nightmare to drive in london. It is a low risk. I dont need to worry about anything. Its nice, we see people coming. I love it. Despite previously funding them, the government announced earlier this month that it was halting all funding for any new schemes. And today the Prime Minister weighed in again, announcing a review of the impact of existing schemes. Whether the government has the power to do anything about existing low Traffic Neighbourhoods is unclear. What is clear, though, is that rishi sunak has decided that motorists could be a key battleground at the next general election. The Conservative Party candidate, 13,960. The conservatives unexpected victory in last months uxbridge by election, in which anger at londons ultra low Emission Zone has played a part, has sparked a debate in the party about its green policies. Some think the drive towards net zero should be the priority in the years ahead and presents a massive economic opportunity. Others want the government to row back on its net zero commitments, especially during a cost of living crisis. Its a delicate balance for the Prime Minister, but with the tories still trailing heavily in the polls, rishi sunak has decided that siding with motorists could yet provide a route to victory. Lets speak now to edmund king, president of the aa motoring organisation. Welcome to the programme. Thank you. It is understood welcome to the programme. Thank you. It is understood that welcome to the programme. Thank you. It is understood that number welcome to the programme. Thank you. It is understood that number ten it is understood that number ten wants to tailor issues for electoral purposes going forward. Are you surprised to see transport as such a central Election Issue . Central Election Issue . Indeed we are uuite central Election Issue . Indeed we are quite surprised central Election Issue . Indeed we are quite surprised because central Election Issue . Indeed we are quite surprised because if central Election Issue . Indeed we j are quite surprised because if you look at the last four or five elections, a couple of years before, transport is in the news, whether it is high speed rail, motorway building, etc but, come the election, most parties actually become quite quiet on the subject. It is a very difficult area. So, i am quite surprised that the starting gun has set off perhaps a little bit early, and one could say that is some opportunity here as a result of the by election in ruislip, which some say was based, the result was based on the ultra low Emission Zone. It is interesting because, if you ask drivers what are the big issues, and we ask drivers often, we conduct Opinion Polls with thousands of drivers, the number one thing is Road Maintenance and potholes. In fact it was a transport subCommittee Report that mac select Committee Report that mac select Committee Report that mac select Committee Report that said the government should concentrate on potholes and Road Maintenance. And the other big issue that they dont seem to be talking about is Smart Motorways. Yes, the government has said they will not build any new Smart Motorways, but there is still a massive question amongst drivers, what happens to existing Smart Motorways . For me, those are the two biggest issues, top of the agenda, and they dont appear to be talking about either of them. We and they dont appear to be talking about either of them. About either of them. We might be readin about either of them. We might be reading about about either of them. We might be reading about them about either of them. We might be reading about them in about either of them. We might be reading about them in tomorrowsl reading about them in tomorrows newspapers, potholes and Smart Motorways. But these are local issues, how much do people look at a party they are a member of, it is their council is making these decisions, and how much do they base it on local concerns, what role does the Political Party actually play in these measures . The Political Party actually play in these measures . That is a very good oint. These measures . That is a very good point these these measures . That is a very good point. These are these measures . That is a very good point. These are not these measures . That is a very good point. These are not only these measures . That is a very good point. These are not only local point. These are not only local issues but urban issues that they are talking about. The vast majority of the electorate dont live in london, manchester or birmingham. They live outside of those areas. So, things like low Traffic Neighbourhoods are very much a local issues and they should be decided by local people. There should be better consultation and, you know, views are divided. Some people love low Traffic Neighbourhoods if it makes it safer for their kids to walk on the street, play on the street, etc. 0thers, the s