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Afghanistan attacks kill 20 on day of violence Afghanistan attacks kill 20 on day of violence
(about 1 hour later)
Taliban gunmen in Afghanistan have been accused of killing 12 landmine clearers on a day of attacks that saw at least eight other people killed. At least 20 people - including 12 members of a landmine-clearing team - have been killed in a series of attacks blamed on the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Another 12 mine clearers were hurt when the Taliban struck in Helmand province, police said, adding that four gunmen were later killed. President Ashraf Ghani said the attack on the de-miners in Helmand province was the work of Afghanistan's enemies.
A suicide bomber killed seven soldiers on a bus in Kabul and a court official was shot dead elsewhere in the capital. Separately, a suicide bomber targeted a bus in the capital, Kabul, killing seven soldiers. Elsewhere in the city, a top court official was shot dead.
Taliban attacks have mounted as the US and Nato wind down their mission. The Taliban has intensified attacks as US and Nato troops prepare to withdraw.
As well as the de-miners killed, several others were reported missing, believed abducted. Most foreign forces are expected leave the country in under three weeks.
They came under attack near the former British base of Camp Bastion by gunmen reportedly riding motorcycles. About 12,000 Nato soldiers will stay behind to train and advise Afghan security forces in 2015, as part of a gradual scaling back of their mission.
Troops later engaged the attackers, killing four and capturing three, police spokesman Farid Ahmad Obaid told reporters. At its peak, the Nato deployment saw 150,000 foreign troops stationed in the country.
After decades of war, Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily mined nations in the world, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports from Kabul. The landmine-clearing team was attacked near the former British base of Camp Bastion - reportedly by gunmen riding motorcycles.
Our correspondent says de-miners are supposed to be accepted as neutral by all parties to the conflict, as their work seeks to reduce the constant danger to civilians from the unexploded debris of war. Troops later fought the attackers, killing four and capturing three, police spokesman Farid Ahmad Obaid told reporters.
However, they are frequently the target of attacks. In April, Taliban gunmen killed 12 of them in Logar province.
A spokesman for the UN-supported humanitarian mine action centre in Afghanistan condemned Saturday's attack.
President Ashraf Ghani described the attack as the "work of the enemies of Afghanistan".
Afghanistan's minefieldsAfghanistan's minefields
Sources: Mine Action Programme in Afghanistan, Halo TrustSources: Mine Action Programme in Afghanistan, Halo Trust
Elsewhere, in the second suicide attack in as many days, a bomber targeted an army bus in Kabul, killing at least seven people. After decades of war, Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily mined nations in the world, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports from Kabul.
The bombing appears to have followed the pattern of the previous attack, which left six soldiers dead, our correspondent says. Our correspondent says de-miners are supposed to be accepted as neutral by all parties to the conflict, as their work seeks to reduce danger to civilians.
Earlier on Saturday, Atiqullah Rawoofi, the head of the Afghan supreme court's secretariat, was shot dead by two men on a motorbike as he walked from his home to his car. However, they are frequently the target of attacks. In April, Taliban gunmen killed 12 of them in Logar province.
Meanwhile in Kabul, a suicide bomber blew himself next to an army bus, killing at least seven people. The vehicle burst into flames.
In a similar attack two days ago, a bomber travelling on foot detonated his explosives beside a bus full of soldiers, killing six of them.
Earlier on Saturday, Atiqullah Rawoofi, the head of the Afghan Supreme Court's secretariat, was shot dead by two men on a motorbike as he walked from his home to his car.
On Friday, two US soldiers died when insurgents attacked a convoy close to the main international base north of Kabul.On Friday, two US soldiers died when insurgents attacked a convoy close to the main international base north of Kabul.
The deaths bring to 65 the number of international troops killed in Afghanistan during 2014, 50 of them from the US.The deaths bring to 65 the number of international troops killed in Afghanistan during 2014, 50 of them from the US.
Most foreign forces will leave the country in under three weeks, although about 12,000 Nato soldiers will remain to train and advise Afghan security forces from 1 January.
On a visit to the north Afghan city of Mazar-e-Shari, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Afghans were "prepared and determined to take over responsibility for security in their country".On a visit to the north Afghan city of Mazar-e-Shari, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Afghans were "prepared and determined to take over responsibility for security in their country".
But in view of the Taliban threat, foreign forces were "determined to stand by the Afghan security forces and to counsel them on how to counter this threat", she added.But in view of the Taliban threat, foreign forces were "determined to stand by the Afghan security forces and to counsel them on how to counter this threat", she added.
Our correspondent says the recent violence has provoked fresh debate about how the Taliban have been able to evade the apparently rigorous security in the capital.Our correspondent says the recent violence has provoked fresh debate about how the Taliban have been able to evade the apparently rigorous security in the capital.
Last month, Kabul's police chief resigned following several attacks on foreigners and locals in the city.Last month, Kabul's police chief resigned following several attacks on foreigners and locals in the city.
President Ghani, who took power in September, has vowed to bring peace after decades of conflict.President Ghani, who took power in September, has vowed to bring peace after decades of conflict.