Tuesday 16 September 2014

Afghan conflict: Three Nato troops killed in Kabul bomb attack



At least three coalition soldiers died after a Taliban suicide car bomber rammed into a foreign military convoy in the Afghan capital Kabul, Nato says.
Another 16 civilians were injured, Afghan government sources say. A fourth Nato soldier is seriously injured.
The blast took place in heavy traffic on the airport road near the US embassy at about 08:00 local time (03:30 GMT).
The blast comes amid uncertainty over disputed presidential elections and the withdrawal of most Nato troops by 2015.
A statement from the Nato-led coalition confirmed that three International Security Assistance Force members died in the attack.
The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul said they were travelling in an armoured landcruiser. The vehicle was destroyed in the blast.
Damaged vehicles of foreign troops are seen at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul on 16 September 2014. The explosion reportedly shook buildings across the centre of Kabul
Our correspondent says the explosion shook buildings across the centre of the capital. The blast took place close to the country's Supreme Court.
The AFP news agency reported that foreign troops were seen giving first aid to blood-stained soldiers from the convoy. The nationality of the dead and injured remains unclear.
BBC Persian's Kawoon Khamoosh, who was not far from the bomb when it went off, said many people were in shock following the attack. He saw broken glass in nearby buildings and cars.
Another eyewitness, Ahmad Ajmal, had a narrow escape.
He told the Associated Press news agency: "When I got out of the vehicle and started walking, an explosion happened, the same vehicle I was in is there and destroyed."
Taliban sources told reporters via e-mail and on Twitter that the group had carried out the attack.
Afghan Presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani speaks to supporters during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, 10 September 2014. Ongoing negotiations between Ashraf Ghani (pictured) and Abdullah Abdullah have caused uncertainty
Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah speaks during a news conference in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, 8 September 2014. Abdullah Abdullah (pictured) and Ashraf Ghani held talks on Monday on how to end the political deadlock
The two candidates vying for Afghanistan's presidency, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, have been locked in a dispute over the results of the recent election, which was rocked by allegations of fraud.
The two are now negotiating a power-sharing deal and met on Monday to discuss it.
Correspondents say that Taliban insurgents have taken advantage of uncertainty over the presidential election to launch attacks.
In July a Taliban suicide bomber killed four people, including at least three foreign security guards, in an attack on a key counter-narcotics building outside Kabul airport.
That attack came days after security forces repelled an attack on Kabul airport by the Taliban.
Mr Abdullah himself was targeted by a suicide bomb attack in June, also in Kabul. Six people were killed and at least 22 injured when two blasts hit a rally. He survived unscathed