US President Barack Obama has condemned as "outrageous" Saturday's deadly suicide bomb attack on a town in north-western Pakistan.

A female bomber killed at least 43 people in the attack on a large crowd receiving food aid in Khar in the Bajaur region.

The town is in tribal areas close to the Afghan border - a Taliban and al-Qaeda stronghold.

People displaced by fighting had been getting food at a distribution centre.
Saturday's bombing was the latest in a string of recent attacks in Pakistan's north-west.

Taliban claim

"I strongly condemn the outrageous terrorist attack in Khar, Pakistan," President Obama said.

"Killing innocent civilians outside a World Food Programme distribution point is an affront to the people of Pakistan, and to all humanity," he said.