The funeral was for one of three policemen killed by a roadside b**** earlier on Friday.

Police official Wakif Khan told the BBC Urdu service that about 65 people were injured in the attack in Mingora, the main town in the valley of Swat.

Swat has seen continued confrontations in recent months between pro-Taleban militants and the security forces.

Pakistan's army recently said it had regained control over much of the region, driving back local Islamist militants.

Appeal for *la*hd

Hundreds of mourners were attending the funeral in Mingora when the attacker struck.

"The explosion took place as we were preparing to give the honour salute," said Deputy Superintendent Karamat Shah.

"I remember seeing people rushing away and body parts everywhere."

Hospital authorities dealing with the injured were reported to be appealing for *la*hd donations.

The funeral was for one of three officers killed earlier in the town of Lakki Marwat in Bannu district, which borders the troubled North Waziristan tribal region.

The b**** exploded near their vehicle, police said. The chief of police in Bannu district, Hamza Mehsud, said two others were critically wounded in the blast.

The health minister for North West Frontier Province told AFP news agency efforts to rescue the injured had suffered delays.

"We are facing difficulty in the relief operation because the blast also damaged an electricity transformer in the area," Syed Kamal Shah was quoted as saying.