KANDAHAR (Afghanistan), June 1: A suicide attack on the funeral of a key anti-Taliban cleric on Wednesday killed at least 27 people, including one of Afghanistan’s top policemen and wounded 42 in the southern city of Kandahar. The blast ripped through a mosque in the centre of the city, the birthplace of the Taliban regime that was ousted by US-led forces three and a half years ago, as hundreds of mourners gathered inside.
The attack was the worst in Afghanistan this year and one of the most serious since the fall of the Taliban, which gave shelter and support to Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network. Afghan interior ministry spokesman Lutfullah Mashal told AFP that the police chief of Kabul, General Akram Khakraizwall, was among the dead.
“It was a suicide attack by the enemies of Afghanistan and Islam. The investigation into the case has started,” added Mashal. The bombing came as prayers were given for Maulvi Abdullah Fayyaz, a close supporter of US-backed President Hamid Karzai. Fayyaz was gunned down on May 29 after recently speaking out against fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
“Twenty-seven people were killed and 42 were injured and hospitalised,” the provincial governor, Gul Agha Shirzai, told reporters in Kandahar. The bomber had been identified as an Arab, based on documents including an identity card found on the remains of his body, he added. Arabs make up the bulk of the Al-Qaeda militants believed to remain in Afghanistan.
WASHINGTON, June 1: The US State Department has said it cannot yet confirm Al Qaeda suspect Abu Faraj Farj Al Libbi has been extradited to the United States. President Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday Pakistan had handed over the suspect, who is a Libyan citizen, to the Americans. US counter-terrorism agents have identified Al Libbi as Al Qaeda’s third-most important figure.
Asked if he could confirm whether the US had heard from Pakistan Al Libbi was going to be deported, extradited or transferred to the US, the spokesman, Richard Boucher, said: “We saw (President Musharraf’s) comments but the answer is no.” A State Department official, when contacted by Dawn on Wednesday to confirm Al Libbi’s extradition, said: “We still do not know.”
At an earlier briefing, Boucher said he was not aware of any move to bring Al Libbi to the United States. “I don’t think there is a formal process underway at this point.” He said the US authorities were in touch with the Pakistani government about Al Libbi but “where he ultimately ends up for trial or custody remains a question.”
Asked if Washington welcomes President Musharraf’s statement, Boucher said: “I am not going to start speculating on it. We will talk to the Pakistani government about these things first.”
Thanks for that update Oorang.
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