PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Suspected militants bombed a bus carrying prisoners in northwest Pakistan today, killing at least nine people as fighting between security forces and extremists flared across the country’s tribal belt.

The powerful blast left a massive crater in the middle of a bridge in Bannu and left the burnt-out vehicle completely mangled.

The fresh violence came just over a week after longtime U.S. ally Pervez Musharraf resigned as president, triggering a scramble for power that collapsed Pakistan’s governing coalition.

The party long led by slain former Prime Minister Bena zir Bhutto is now in a position to dominate the government and it is toughening its stance against Islamist extremists.

The Pakistani Taliban, meanwhile, are becoming increasingly bold, claiming responsibility for a wave of suicide bombings and gun attacks.

Thai protesters defy court to clear office

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Thousands of demonstrators, some armed with golf clubs, batons and bamboo sticks, defied a court order to end their occupation of the prime minister’s office compound today, vowing to remain until the country’s leaders resign.

Dozens of members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy clad in military fatigues wielded makeshift weapons as they stood guard around the perimeter of the compound, which the demonstrators have occupied since Tuesday. Protesters locked most of the gates and built barriers in anticipation of a possible police raid.

The alliance wants to force the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to step down, accusing it of corruption and of serving as a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and faces several corruption cases.

Indian woman gives birth during flight

DARWIN, Australia (AP) — An Indian woman gave birth to a healthy boy aboard a jet airliner while flying to Australia to reunite with her husband.

Judith Hamel, one of four doctors who helped deliver the 6 pound baby aboard the Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to the southern city of Adelaide, described the delivery as smooth.

“I think we all had fun once we knew it was all safe,” Hamel told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio Wednesday.

The flight was diverted to the northern city of Darwin where the 29-year-old mother, Paramjit Kaur, from Punjab state in northwest India, and the baby were admitted to the Royal Darwin Hospital within two hours of the birth, a hospital spokeswoman said on a customary condition of anonymity.

The mother was 34 weeks’ pregnant when she took the first flight of her life from New Delhi. She and her first born, six weeks premature, were both well.