Suicide bombers strike in Afghan cities

KANDAHAR – Suicide bombers struck in Afghanistan’s two main cities yesterday, killing three civilians and wounding six, while seven suspected militants died in fighting with coalition and Nato forces in outlying provinces, officials said.

Resistance from Taliban-led insurgents has eased a little in recent weeks but they have kept up a steady stream of suicide attacks, on the back of the heaviest burst of fighting in Afghanistan since the Islamic militia’s ouster from power five years ago. Yesterday saw bombings in Kandahar and Kabul.In the attack near the international airport in the capital, police managed to corner the bomber and only one bystander, a child, was hurt, police officer Mirza Mohammed and eyewitnesses said.In the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, an attacker in a Toyota Surf car laden with explosives rammed into a Nato military convoy, damaging one heavy jeep, Nato and police said.Police officer Abdul Wasai said three Afghan civilians were killed and four wounded in the blast that left the attacker’s vehicle and body in pieces, scattered on the road.Maj.Daryl Morrell, a spokesman for the Nato-led force, blamed the Taliban for the attack, saying the hard-line militia wanted to disturb law and order in Kandahar province.He said one Nato soldier was wounded, but would not give details about identity or nationality.An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw Canadian troops block the road where the attack happened near a major junction leading into the city.In central Ghazni province, US-led coalition and Afghan troops, backed by warplanes, launched a pre-dawn raid yesterday that killed three suspected militants, the US military said in a statement.The forces had to call in air support, it said.The troops found bomb-making materials in the compound.Nampa-APYesterday saw bombings in Kandahar and Kabul.In the attack near the international airport in the capital, police managed to corner the bomber and only one bystander, a child, was hurt, police officer Mirza Mohammed and eyewitnesses said.In the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar, an attacker in a Toyota Surf car laden with explosives rammed into a Nato military convoy, damaging one heavy jeep, Nato and police said.Police officer Abdul Wasai said three Afghan civilians were killed and four wounded in the blast that left the attacker’s vehicle and body in pieces, scattered on the road.Maj.Daryl Morrell, a spokesman for the Nato-led force, blamed the Taliban for the attack, saying the hard-line militia wanted to disturb law and order in Kandahar province.He said one Nato soldier was wounded, but would not give details about identity or nationality.An Associated Press reporter at the scene saw Canadian troops block the road where the attack happened near a major junction leading into the city.In central Ghazni province, US-led coalition and Afghan troops, backed by warplanes, launched a pre-dawn raid yesterday that killed three suspected militants, the US military said in a statement.The forces had to call in air support, it said.The troops found bomb-making materials in the compound.Nampa-AP