Posted on 02/26/2007 10:18:07 PM PST by Gigantor
Blast near main gates - several people killed
(AFP)
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan – Fifteen Afghans and three foreign soldiers were killed on Tuesday in a suicide attack at an air base where US Vice President Dick Cheney was visiting, the Afghan interior ministry said.
Cheney’s spokeswoman said he was not injured in the incident, which came after bad weather forced Cheney to stay overnight at the base during a surprise visit for talks on the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taleban.
“The vice president is safe,” spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride said. ”The vice president is fine.”
The attack underlined the fragile security situation in Afghanistan, where Cheney arrived Monday after a similar unannounced visit to Pakistan as the United States tries to strengthen the battle against Islamic militants.
The attack occurred inside one of the security gates surrounding the heavily guarded base some 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the capital Kabul.
“It was a suicide bombing. It took place between the main gate and the gate guarded by American soldiers,” said Bagram district governor Kabir Ahmad.
US Lieutenant Colonel David Accetta said an announcement had been sounded across the base: “The base is under direct attack.” He said he could not give any confirmation of casualties but said the all-clear had been sounded.
Last year was the deadliest in Afghanistan since a US-led invasion in 2001 toppled the hardline Islamic Taleban from power, and there have been fears of a deadly spring offensive by the militants as the weather improves.
Cheney had been expected to meet Afghan leaders to offer support ahead of the offensive by Taleban militants and their Al Qaeda allies. It was not immediately known if Cheney would still meet Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
The vice president met Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Monday and urged Islamabad to make greater efforts to track down Al Qaeda and Taleban militants regrouping in the northern tribal areas.
The White House later intensified pressure on Pakistan, which has long been accused by Afghanistan of failing to prevent militants crossing the border to launch attacks against Afghan, US and NATO forces.
Spokesman Tony Snow told reporters in Washington that “a lot more needs to be done” to combat terrorist elements in Pakistan. However he also said it was necessary to continue to support Musharraf.
Cheney’s trip to Pakistan and Afghanistan, which was not announced in advance for security reasons, came amid reports that US aid to Islamabad could be cut if Islamic militants were not hunted down.
His visit follows international concern about the insurgency in Afghanistan. The United States is Kabul’s main supporter and has around 27,000 troops in the country.
Karzai has directly accused Pakistan — which helped the Taleban into government in 1996 -- of involvement in the insurgency. Relations between the Islamic neighbours have crumbled as the violence has intensified.
Pakistan issued a statement after the Cheney meeting on Monday which said Musharraf had urged Pakistani, Afghan, NATO and US forces to take “joint responsibility” for stopping illegal crossings along the 2,500-kilometre (1,550-mile) common border.
He also defended a controversial peace deal with Taleban militants in the North Waziristan tribal region, bordering Afghanistan, that was signed in September.
Pakistan dismissed US claims earlier this month about new Al Qaeda training camps in its northwestern tribal zone as “absurd”. But Musharraf also recently acknowledged that some of his border forces may have been turning a “blind eye” to some militant activities.
UPDATE:
http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/02/27/afx3465056.html
AFX News Limited
"Two dead in suicide blast at Afghan air base as Cheney visits - UPDATE"
02.27.07, 2:02 AM ET
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The attack occurred inside one of the security gates surrounding the heavily guarded base north of Kabul.
'It was a suicide bombing. It took place between the main gate and the gate guarded by American soldiers,' said Bagram district governor Kabir Ahmad.
'We don't have an exact figure but it's said that two have been killed and about 18 wounded.'
US military officials confirmed what they called a 'direct attack' on the base. A spokeswoman for Cheney said the vice president was safe.
afp"
Reuters - AFGHAN POLICE CONFIRM BLAST AT U.S. BASE WHERE V.P. CHENEY VISITING WAS SUICIDE ATTACK
Great Catch,,,TANKS,,,
Reuters - TALIBAN CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATTACK ON U.S. BASE AS V.P. CHENEY VISITS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is one of the news pictures on Yahoo for this bombing. Doesn't look like a shipping container.
A policeman in Afghanistan. A suicide attacker blew himself up outside a military base in Afghanistan where US Vice President Dick Cheney was visiting killing at least two people.
He visited Musharraf today in Pakistan ..
No, it looks like a car.
Thanks for the photos and graphics STARWISE.
Just got it,,,very strange...don't add-up...
TANKS,,,Things are not adding up...
Sad and scary - sad that people died, scary that our vice-president was so close to it.
My opposition to President Bush flying to the Middle East and stopping in Afghanistan or Iraq has just risen.
Regards, Ivan
iran
Bush's busy trying to keep the cowardly Congress from surrendering and joining the enemy.
And The Plot Thickens !!...
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