Blast kills top Afghan official

by BBC (reposted)

Thu, Jan 31, 2008 7:46AM

Thursday, January 31, 2008 : The deputy governor of Afghanistan's Helmand province is killed in a bomb attack on a mosque.

Afghan police at the site of the suicide attack at the mosque in Lashkar Gah

Afghanistan - dire warnings

Deputy governor Haji Pir Mohammed was one of seven people - including the bomber - killed in the explosion at the start of afternoon prayers.

Eighteen people were also hurt in the suicide bombing in Helmand's provincial capital, Lashkar Gah, police said.

The Taleban say they carried out the attack. Helmand is a major stronghold of the Taleban.

Most of the 6,000 British troops serving as part of a Nato force in Afghanistan are also based in the southern province and Canada has 2,500 troops there.

Helmand is a centre for opium production and international efforts to curb the trade have had limited effect.

Deputy Helmand Governor Haji Pir Mohammed Mr Pir Mohammed was killed at the start of afternoon prayers

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For more information: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/...

§Afghan blast kills Helmand official

by Al Jazeera (reposted)

Thu, Jan 31, 2008 7:50AM

Thursday, January 31, 2008 : Suicide attack on a mosque in Lashkar Gah claims six lives and wounds 18 people.

A suicide bomber has killed the deputy governor of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, along with five other people. Another 18 people were wounded in the attack, when the bomber exploded among worshipers at a mosque in the town of Lashkar Gah on Thursday.

"Six bodies were brought to our hospital including the deputy provincial governor, Haji Pir Mohammad," Nisar Ahmad, the province's deputy health director said. Mohammad Hussain Andiwal, the provincial police chief, confirmed the toll.

"When the prayers started at the main mosque of Lashkar Gah ... a suicide attacker who had strapped explosives to his body detonated," Andiwal said. He added that a four-year-old child "who was sitting at the entrance of the mosque and was begging" was among those wounded in the attack.

Kabul blast

The bombing came soon after at least one person was killed by a suicide blast in Kabul, the Afghan capital. Several more people were wounded in the Kabul explosion, which appeared to target an Afghan army bus. The bus, which had been taking Afghan soldiers to work, was left burning in the street and ambulances were seen leaving the scene with their sirens on

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