Bomb in Afghan Bazaar Injures About 20
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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- A bomb exploded in a bazaar in this southern Afghan city on Saturday, wounding about 20 people, at least three seriously, officials said.
The bomb, apparently placed on a motorcycle, detonated at about 12:30 p.m. outside a hotel at in the Herat bazaar in Kandahar's commercial center.
"Taliban and al-Qaida carried out this terrorist attack. We are trying to catch those responsible," city police chief Mohammad Hashim said.
Nick Downie, head of ANSO, an independent body that advises aid organizations on security in Afghanistan, said seven people were seriously wounded. Hashim put the figure at three.
Downie said the motorcycle was parked between two cars shortly before the explosion and surrounding buildings were badly damaged.
Kandahar is the former stronghold of Taliban, whose supporters this year have mounted a wave of deadly attacks on soldiers from the U.S.-led coalition, Afghan officials and aid workers.
On Wednesday, two U.S. soldiers were wounded in Kandahar when a suspected Taliban militant threw a grenade at their military vehicle in a busy square.
Residents say American soldiers have been patrolling the city since a car bomb exploded outside U.N. offices here on Nov. 11, injuring two people, including a U.N. security guard. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack.
The U.S. military said coalition troops on Thursday found hundreds of rockets, mortars and mines neatly stacked in Kandahar prison, where 41 Taliban prisoners mounted a spectacular escape in October.
The American military also is concerned that Taliban could target the loya jirga, or grand council, which is to meet in the capital Kabul next week to debate and ratify a new constitution for Afghanistan.
The violence has seriously hampered development work across the south and east of the country, undermining efforts to rebuild and democratize it after more than two decades of war.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AFGHAN_EXPLOSION?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME
IMHO, some reporters should be tarred and feathered.
Difficult, dangerous work continues by our troops, Coalition and Afghan allies. Our guys are not the ones hiding in caves.
8 Rumsfeld Meets Two Main Afghan Warlords ~ Washington Times, AP | 12/04/03 | Robert Burns
8 Rumsfeld Visits Provincial Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan ~ [2nd Royal Gurkha Regiment +] ~ DoD | 12/04/03 | John D. Banusiewicz