A FORMER mayor of Blackburn with Darwen narrowly escaped injury in a bomb blast which killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more.

Salas Kiani was part of a group accompanying former Pakistan president Benazir Bhutto, who has been in exile in Dubai and London for eight years, as she returned to Karachi on Thursday.

What began as a joyous occasion turned into a bloodbath when explosives were detonated near the heavily protected truck carrying Ms Bhutto and her party leaders, killing many people who had lined the streets to welcome her home.

Ms Bhutto escaped uninjured, as she is believed to have gone down into the truck, which was emblazoned with the words Long Live Bhutto.

Mr Kiani has remained in regular contact with Ms Bhutto since she visited Blackburn during his mayoral tenure in 1999.

The former Labour councillor, who represented Audley until he left the council in 2002, has phoned his wife at their home in Chester Street, Blackburn, to tell her he was uninjured.

His friends have spoken of their relief at the news.

Coun Hussain Akhtar said: "I went straight over to Mr Kiani's house to find out if he was okay, as I knew he was travelling with Benazir Bhutto to Pakistan.

"He has become good friends with her since she visited Blackburn and has remained involved since his retirement from politics in Blackburn.

"As a member of the group with Ms Bhutto he would have been very close to the bomb, though I don't think he was on the truck with her."

Coun Salim Mulla said: "As a personal friend I was very glad to hear Mr Kiani was safe, and Ms Bhutto, whom I met several times during her visits to Blackburn."

The Taliban threatened to kill Ms Bhutto after she indicated she would help American troops hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida fugitives inside Pakistan.

Coun Akhtar added: "Ms Bhutto is very popular amongst Pakistanis and I absolutely condemn the bombers, who have killed so many innocent people, just normal hard-working people who support her, not politicians.

"And it's not just those killed, but all their families who now suffer too, I had tears in my eyes when I heard.

"I know that we have different views in Blackburn but at least we are united and working together."