'Deadliest' attack in Afghanistan

by BBC (reposted)

Sun, Feb 17, 2008 10:38AM

Sunday, February 17, 2008 : A suicide bomb kills at least 80 people in the Afghan city of Kandahar in seemingly the deadliest attack since 2001.

The massive blast hit a crowd of people watching a dog-fighting contest.

"This suicide attack was the work of the Taleban," said Governor Assadullah Khalid, adding the death toll may rise.

Southern Afghanistan is a Taleban stronghold and last week the Kandahar governor himself was the target of an attempt on his life.

The Taleban have not claimed responsibility for the blast, but it bears all their hallmarks, says the BBC's Jon Brain in the Afghan capital.

Among those killed was Abdul Hakim, a local police chief fiercely opposed to the Taleban who is thought to have been the target of the attack.

Body parts

Excitement was mounting among the 500-strong, male-only crowd when the huge blast struck.

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

§At Least 80 Killed in Afghanistan Suicide Bombing

by NPR (reposted)

Sun, Feb 17, 2008 10:35AM

Sunday, February 17, 2008 : At least 80 people have been killed in a suicide attack at a dog-fighting arena in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The morning attack happened a half-hour drive from the western edge of Kandahar. Many of the victims were attending a dog fight, a favorite and legal sport in Afghanistan.

The morning attack happened a half-hour drive from the western edge of Kandahar. Many of the victims were attending a dog fight, a favorite and legal sport in Afghanistan.

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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...

§Scores killed in Afghan blast

by Al Jazeera (reposted)

Sun, Feb 17, 2008 10:41AM

Sunday, February 17, 2008 : More than 80 people die in explosion at dog fighting competition in Kandahar.

A bomb in Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar has killed scores of people and wounded many more. Reporting from Kabul, Al Jazeera's Bernard Smith said that about 80 people may have died in the blast that went off at a popular picnic spot on Sunday. The leader of a local tribe was said to be among the many victims.

Assadullah Khalid, Kandahar's provincial governor, said the blast was triggered by a suicide bomber.

"Sixty of the martyrs were brought to hospitals and 20 more dead bodies were taken from the site. We think 80 people were killed in this suicide attack," he told reporters.

Khalid blamed Taliban for the attack.

"This suicide attack was the work of the Taliban, the enemies of Afghanistan," he said.

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