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| Kabul suicide bomb hits US convoy | Kabul suicide bomb hits US convoy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A suicide car bombing in Kabul has killed at least 16 people, as Nato military chiefs prepared to discuss a plea for more troops for Afghanistan. | |
| The attack on a US military convoy occurred near the American embassy, killing two US soldiers and injuring two others, the US military said. | The attack on a US military convoy occurred near the American embassy, killing two US soldiers and injuring two others, the US military said. |
| It came as Nato generals gathered in Poland for talks in which they are expected to seek 2,000 extra troops. | It came as Nato generals gathered in Poland for talks in which they are expected to seek 2,000 extra troops. |
| Nato forces in the south face mounting casualties in clashes with the Taleban. | Nato forces in the south face mounting casualties in clashes with the Taleban. |
| MAJOR SUICIDE ATTACKS 28 August 2006: 17 die in bombing in southern province of Helmand3 August 2006: 21 killed in bomb in Kandahar province7 February 2006: 17 die in two attacks in Kandahar and Farah provinces16 January 2006: Two attacks in Kandahar province kill 24 people15 January 2006: Canadian diplomat and 2 Afghan bystanders killed in Kandahar5 January 2006: 10 killed in Tirin Kowt, UruzganSeptember 2005: 12 killed outside Afghan army base in KabulJune 2005: 20 killed in Kandahar mosque In pictures: Afghan violence Afghan security challenges Al-Qaeda imports Iraq tactics | MAJOR SUICIDE ATTACKS 28 August 2006: 17 die in bombing in southern province of Helmand3 August 2006: 21 killed in bomb in Kandahar province7 February 2006: 17 die in two attacks in Kandahar and Farah provinces16 January 2006: Two attacks in Kandahar province kill 24 people15 January 2006: Canadian diplomat and 2 Afghan bystanders killed in Kandahar5 January 2006: 10 killed in Tirin Kowt, UruzganSeptember 2005: 12 killed outside Afghan army base in KabulJune 2005: 20 killed in Kandahar mosque In pictures: Afghan violence Afghan security challenges Al-Qaeda imports Iraq tactics |
| The Kabul blast targeted a US military convoy hitting a Humvee, a military spokesman told the BBC. | The Kabul blast targeted a US military convoy hitting a Humvee, a military spokesman told the BBC. |
| Local hospitals told the BBC nearly 30 people had been wounded. | Local hospitals told the BBC nearly 30 people had been wounded. |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead at the scene said debris and body parts had been scattered over a wide area by the force of the blast, which was felt across the city. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead at the scene said debris and body parts had been scattered over a wide area by the force of the blast, which was felt across the city. |
| Witness Najibullah Faizi, 25, told the Associated Press news agency that he saw a blue car ram one of two armoured vehicles in the convoy. | Witness Najibullah Faizi, 25, told the Associated Press news agency that he saw a blue car ram one of two armoured vehicles in the convoy. |
| "I fell to the ground after the blast. American soldiers started shooting at another car nearby. There was smoke and flames everywhere," he said. | "I fell to the ground after the blast. American soldiers started shooting at another car nearby. There was smoke and flames everywhere," he said. |
| A man claiming to be a spokesman for the Taleban told an Afghan news agency that the rebel group was behind the attack. | A man claiming to be a spokesman for the Taleban told an Afghan news agency that the rebel group was behind the attack. |
| Such claims have not always proved to be reliable, although the Taleban have carried out many attacks in Afghanistan. | Such claims have not always proved to be reliable, although the Taleban have carried out many attacks in Afghanistan. |
| There has been a series of suicide bombings across Afghanistan, but such a large explosion in the centre of Kabul is unusual. | There has been a series of suicide bombings across Afghanistan, but such a large explosion in the centre of Kabul is unusual. |
| 'Major operation' | 'Major operation' |
| Also on Friday, four Italian peacekeepers were injured, one seriously, in a roadside explosion near the city of Farah, the Italian defence ministry said. | Also on Friday, four Italian peacekeepers were injured, one seriously, in a roadside explosion near the city of Farah, the Italian defence ministry said. |
| We are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics Gen James Jones Send us your comments Quick guide: Afghanistan | We are a little bit surprised at the level of intensity, and that the opposition in some areas are not relying on traditional hit-and-run tactics Gen James Jones Send us your comments Quick guide: Afghanistan |
| And a suicide attacker struck a convoy near the southern city of Kandahar, although only the bomber died. | And a suicide attacker struck a convoy near the southern city of Kandahar, although only the bomber died. |
| The violence comes as Nato commanders seek reinforcements as forces carry out Operation Medusa, a major offensive against Taleban militants in southern Afghanistan. | The violence comes as Nato commanders seek reinforcements as forces carry out Operation Medusa, a major offensive against Taleban militants in southern Afghanistan. |
| The operation is the biggest in the area since the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) took over the area from a US-led coalition at the end of July. | The operation is the biggest in the area since the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) took over the area from a US-led coalition at the end of July. |
| NATO-LED FORCE (ISAF) UK (command): 5,400 Germany: 2,600 Canada: 2,500 Netherlands: 2,300 US: 2,050 Italy: 1,250France: 1,000 Canadian losses mount Nato mission under pressure | |
| Several Nato soldiers, most of them British or Canadian, have been killed in fierce fighting with Taleban guerrillas since the alliance extended its peacekeeping mission in the south a month ago. | Several Nato soldiers, most of them British or Canadian, have been killed in fierce fighting with Taleban guerrillas since the alliance extended its peacekeeping mission in the south a month ago. |
| News of the latest violence came as the commander of British forces in Afghanistan said his troops faced an "intensity and ferocity" of fighting that was "for greater" than that faced by British troops serving in Iraq. | News of the latest violence came as the commander of British forces in Afghanistan said his troops faced an "intensity and ferocity" of fighting that was "for greater" than that faced by British troops serving in Iraq. |
| Gen Ed Butler said his troops were being attacked up to a dozen times a day and at times faced hand-to-hand combat. | Gen Ed Butler said his troops were being attacked up to a dozen times a day and at times faced hand-to-hand combat. |
| Nato's top commander, Gen James Jones, on Thursday said the alliance had been taken aback by the scale of violence in the region. | Nato's top commander, Gen James Jones, on Thursday said the alliance had been taken aback by the scale of violence in the region. |
| Nato troops took over leadership of military operations in the region from the US in July. | Nato troops took over leadership of military operations in the region from the US in July. |
| Many analysts believe there were serious shortcomings in the intelligence assessments that established the initial mission, and that harder fighting was to be expected. | Many analysts believe there were serious shortcomings in the intelligence assessments that established the initial mission, and that harder fighting was to be expected. |
| The Taleban ruled Afghanistan until late 2001 when they were toppled by US-led forces in the wake of the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington. | The Taleban ruled Afghanistan until late 2001 when they were toppled by US-led forces in the wake of the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington. |
| Have you been affected by this incident? Did you witness the blast? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been affected by this incident? Did you witness the blast? Send us your comments using the form below. |