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| Afghanistan |
| Afghanistan: Roadside bomb kills at least 12 in Herat |
| 2009-08-04 |
| [ADN Kronos] A roadside bomb has killed at least 12 people in western Afghanistan, amid concern about deteriorating security ahead of this month's presidential election. The attack, which has been claimed by the Taliban, targeted a police convoy and may have been aimed at a local police chief. The device appeared to be detonated in a roadside rubbish bin by remote control during rush hour in Herat, in the country's west near the border with Iran. Among those killed in Monday's blast were a woman, a 12-year-old girl and two policemen, according to provincial security commander General Esmatullah Alizai. Twenty people, many of them civilians, were also injured in the attack. Violence has increased across Afghanistan in the run-up to the presidential poll on August 20, seen as a key test for Washington and Kabul. However, attacks have been mainly in the south and east, where Taliban rebels have their strongest presence. Nine foreign soldiers, including six Americans, were killed in Taliban strongholds in the south and east of Afghanistan at the weekend. |
| Posted by:Fred |