This vehicle damaged in an Afghanistan resistance attack on the US-backed police force in the occupied central Asian nation. The US has deployed thousands of troops to this country where they have waged war for eight years.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
11:18 Mecca time, 08:18 GMT
Deaths in Afghan city blast
Several police vehicles were damaged in the attack
At least 12 people, including a child, have been killed and another 26 wounded in a bomb blast in western Afghanistan.
Police officials said that the blast in the province of Herat on Monday had targeted a police convoy.
Raouf Ahmedi, a police spokesman, said the bomb was detonated by remote control.
One woman and a child were among those killed in the blast and the district police chief was seriously wounded, General Esmatullah Alizai, the security commander for Herat, said.
Another official said that two police officers were among those killed.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Attacks on security forces have increased as Afghans gear up for a presidential election scheduled for August 20.
However, the attacks have come mainly in the south where Taliban fighters have their strongest presence.
James Bays, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul, the Afghan capital, said: "We have certainly seen a lot of violence during the election campaign already and we still have just less than three weeks to go until polling day.
“I think what's significant is that this [attack took place in] Herat, a relatively peaceful city, a relatively prosperous city here in Afghanistan near the Iranian border ... but attacks there have been on the increase," he said.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
No comments:
Post a Comment