Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Suicide bomb squad hits Afghan city: govt
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
Suicide bomb squad hits Afghan city: govt
AFP - Sunday, July 26
KHOST, Afghanistan (AFP) - - Seven suicide bombers tried to storm state targets in a city in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, killing one civilian in the third Taliban commando raid in a week, authorities said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Part of a worsening Taliban insurgency, the attacks underscored the vulnerability of the Western-backed government less than four weeks before landmark elections and raised concerns for the security of the polls.
Officials said most of the attackers blew themselves up before reaching their targets in different parts of the eastern city of Khost, close to the border with Pakistan, where Islamist militants have carved out safe havens.
"All of the bombers who had suicide vests on their bodies were identified and fired at by our brave police before they reached their targets," it said.
The ministry said that one group of militants approached the city police headquarters, while other individuals tried to storm a police post, a police rapid reaction unit in an old hospital, and another location near a bank.
It was unclear which attackers were shot dead by security forces and how many actually managed to detonate their vests. The NATO-led force here said some insurgents were killed when a car packed with explosives blew up.
Hamidullah Qalandarzai, Khost provincial governor, said the attackers were dressed as members of an Afghan militia that works with foreign forces.
"The bodies of six suicide bombers have been recovered. There could be more bombers ... One civilian was killed," he told AFP.
Some of the attackers were armed with machine guns and rocket launchers and exchanged fire with security forces before detonating their explosive-laden vests, defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi
"We have three military people wounded and 14 civilians," he said. A doctor at Khost hospital said the wounded included an eight-year-old girl.
The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said that Afghan forces had "thwarted the attack", describing how some of militants tried to drive a car bomb into the old Afghan military hospital now housing a police unit.
"The vehicle exploded, injuring two Afghan National Policemen and two civilians -- the ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) saved lives today," Lieutenant Colonel Stephan Smith said in a statement.
It did not mention the civilian killed.
Zabihullah Mujahed, a Taliban spokesman, called AFP from an undisclosed location and said the insurgent Islamist group was behind the attacks.
"Thirteen of our suicide bombers attacked government buildings in Khost," Mujahed said. Taliban members are known to exaggerate their claims.
Khost is the third city to be hit by a commando-style Taliban strike in a week, with five people killed Tuesday when eight suicide bombers, some dressed as women and with guns, tried to storm official property in two Afghan cities.
Afghan authorities said later that police arrested seven would-be suicide bombers, who would have inflicted mayhem in further coordinated strikes.
Khost has become one of the most dangerous cities in Afghanistan over the last six months and the scene of repeated deadly attacks.
The eastern province is just across the border from Pakistan's wild Waziristan tribal region, where US and Afghan officials accuse Islamist militants of plotting attacks on troops across the border.
With the Taliban-led insurgency at its deadliest since the US-led invasion of 2001, the United States has ordered an extra 21,000 soldiers to Afghanistan in a bid to stabilise the country ahead of August 20 presidential elections.
The military said Saturday two NATO soldiers and more than a dozen rebels had been killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan.
US regional envoy Richard Holbrooke said in Kabul on Saturday holding elections in the middle of a war would be "extraordinarily difficult".
But he said he believed Afghans would go to the polls despite the threat of further Taliban attacks.
"What do you want the Afghan people to do, to abandon the election because of some threats from a small minority of Taliban? Impossible. So we hold the best elections we can under the circumstances," he told reporters.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Indonesia reports first swine flu-related death: govtAFP - Sunday, July 26
Elderly's 'only talent' is the ability to work: Japan PMAFP - Sunday, July 26
Five dead, 3 missing in Japan landslides, floodsAFP - Sunday, July 26
Child's flu death sparks race tensions in AustraliaAFP - Sunday, July 26
Pakistan adjourns Mumbai case for a monthReuters - Sunday, July 26
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
Swine flu virus has spread to almost every country: WHO
Lost love letter reunites couple after 16 years
Police raid Jackson doctor for manslaughter link
Massive quake moves NZealand closer to Australia
Schwarzenegger defends knife-wielding Twitter video
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Sunday, 26 July 2009 Suicide bomb squad hits Afghan city: govt
US-TECH Summary
Bleriot XI marks centenary of historic flight
No change to hajj quotas with flu curbs: Riyadh
Bill Gates quits Facebook over 'too many friends'
Afghan bloodshed kills 2 NATO troops, dozen rebels
Bomb in Iraq's Falluja kills five and wounds 21
Four killed in Iraq car bombing
Iran clerics urged to 'help stop oppression'
Britain's last surviving WW1 veteran dies, aged 111
| International
|
Libya asks for Lockerbie bomber to be freed
| International
|
Colombia says 18 rebels dead in jungle bombardment
| International
|
Indonesia reports first swine flu-related death: govt
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Tim Burton explores "Alice in Wonderland"
Experts: Full criminal probe in Jackson case
Counting underway after Iraqi Kurd vote
Harry Patch, last veteran of World War I trenches, dies at 111
Pakistan stretched thin for Mehsud battle
China web users outnumber US population: report
Ousted Zelaya on Honduras border, criticizes U.S.
| International
|
Mediterranean wildfires wreak destruction, recrimination
Wedding dance video goes viral
Spiralling violence unnerves Afghanistan before vote
Ericsson buys a North American chunk of Nortel
Britain urged to engage with Hamas moderates
Brazil, Paraguay reach historic hydroelectric deal
Lawmakers urge UK government to talk to Hamas
| International
|
Iraqi Kurds flock to polls amid tensions with Baghdad
Qantas jet loses air pressure during flight
| International
|
Iraqi Kurds end voting as feud with Baghdad looms
U.S. defence chief heads to Israel and Jordan
Thousands of China steel workers clash with police
| International
|
Iraqi Kurds hope for change in regional elections
Iran's opposition turns to top clerics for help
Iran opposition urge clerics to act over detainees
Maliki says arrest of US troop was mistake
US in diplomatic push for Mideast peace
Bail set at $10M for Seattle stabbing suspect
Obama hawks health care overhaul, citing study
Connecticut holds 1st exotic animal amnesty day
Kyrgyz opposition cries fraud over vote
All 13 astronauts enjoy first day off in 11 days
Pa. day care center that lost 4 kids ordered shut
Suicide attackers strike southeastern Afghan city
China says 36 schoolchildren sick with swine flu
Iraq to send students to colleges in US, abroad
China economy growing again while US limps
Pakistan court delays Mumbai attack case for month
Analysis: Race is daunting challenge for Obama
Elderly's 'only talent' is the ability to work: Japan PM
NJ mayor's arrest puts spotlight on historic city
Child's flu death sparks race tensions in Australia
Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan row over Caspian fields
ICICI Bank says quarterly profits up 20.6 percent
Tim Burton explores Alice in Wonderland
| Entertainment
|
Swiss Army knife morphs with age
LA octuplets to star in reality show: report
Farewell to Fleet Street
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
CORRECTED
Directors, actors geek out with fans at Comic-Con
Bayreuth opera festival opens under new directors
Chinese director Jia to make 1st big budget film
James Cameron, Peter Jackson talk future of film
British PM urges party 'discipline'
Iran opposition asks to commemorate unrest victims
Clinton urges North Korea to return to talks
| International
|
German firms eye brighter future: survey
U.S. tries to spur Middle East peace talks
| International
|
Clinton says Iran's nuclear pursuit is futile
| International
|
Iran hardliners say Ahmadinejad defied leader over VP
Iran opposition wants mourning ceremony
First results due Monday in Iraqi Kurd election
| International
|
Afghan vice-presidential candidate survives ambush
| International
|
Netanyahu: Israel wants 'understanding' with US
Pakistan police detain pro-Taliban cleric Mohammad
| International
|
U.S. tries to spur Middle East peace talks
Egypt refers Hezbollah case to emergency court
| International
|
Chechnya blast kills at least five: report
| International
|
Protesters call for end to Iranian rights abuses
France's Sarkozy taken ill while exercising
| International
|
Kuwait financier facing U.S. fraud suit found dead
| International
|
US envoy holds Syria talks amid new peace push
The Nation's weather
Ohio man routinely mistaken for famous astronaut
Kids' Roller Coaster Jumps Tracks During Church Carnival
Polarizing Alaska governor Palin steps down Sunday
Senate Approves Funds To Thwart Iranian E-Censorship
Body Surfer Killed In Rough California Waves
4 suspects detained in Mexico in US agent killing
Body Found In Grand Canyon May Be Missing College Student
President Obama Asks Harvard Professor Gates, Cambridge Cop Over For Cold One In "Near Future"
Obama Signs U.N. Convention On Rights Of Disabled Proclamation
Some incumbent senators seem to get no respect
Protestors In New York Join Those Across The Globe Marching To Protest Iran's Post-Electtion Violence
Police Get Calls From Across US Over 8-Year-Old Girl's Rape; Liberian President Outrage
Officials From U.S.-Mexico Launch Manhunt Over Killing Of Border Patrol Agent
Defense secretary scores big wins on weapons cuts
Hubble Space Telescope Captures Clear Image Of Recent Impact Site, Debris Field On Jupiter
US eyes private guards for bases in Afghanistan
Ala. senator mum on his decision about Sotomayor
Chinese real estate on mend despite downturn
James Cameron talks tech, Avatar at Comic-Con
| Entertainment
|
New film shows pranksters battling companies
| Entertainment
|
Bayreuth's 'Tristan', or Love in the GDR
Billy Joel ill, postpones 2nd upstate NY show
Cast of `Glee' spill secrets, shows second episode
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights