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| Afghanistan attacks kill 20 on day of violence | Afghanistan attacks kill 20 on day of violence |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| At least 20 people - including 12 members of a landmine-clearing team - have been killed in a series of attacks blamed on the Taliban. | |
| President Ashraf Ghani said the attack on the de-miners in Helmand province was the work of Afghanistan's enemies. | President Ashraf Ghani said the attack on the de-miners in Helmand province was the work of Afghanistan's enemies. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Taliban has intensified attacks as foreign troops prepare to withdraw. | |
| With this cascade of attacks the Taliban seem intent on humiliating, and trying to undermine, the Nato force that's about to scale down to just 13,000 - less than a tenth of what it was at its height, BBC South Asia editor Charles Haviland reports. | |
| They are also demoralising Afghanistan's own security forces, who have taken on most frontline responsibilities and have lost more than 9,000 men in two years, he adds. | |
| The landmine-clearing team was attacked near the former British base of Camp Bastion - reportedly by gunmen riding motorcycles. | The landmine-clearing team was attacked near the former British base of Camp Bastion - reportedly by gunmen riding motorcycles. |
| Troops later fought the attackers, killing four and capturing three, police spokesman Farid Ahmad Obaid told reporters. | Troops later fought the attackers, killing four and capturing three, police spokesman Farid Ahmad Obaid told reporters. |
| Afghanistan's minefields | Afghanistan's minefields |
| Sources: Mine Action Programme in Afghanistan, Halo Trust | Sources: Mine Action Programme in Afghanistan, Halo Trust |
| After decades of war, Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily mined nations in the world, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports from Kabul. | After decades of war, Afghanistan remains one of the most heavily mined nations in the world, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge reports from Kabul. |
| 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. | 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. |
| However, they are frequently the target of attacks. In April, Taliban gunmen killed 12 of them in Logar province. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| On a visit to the north Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif, 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. |