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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Dozens die in new Afghan bombing | Dozens die in new Afghan bombing |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A bomb blast in southern Afghanistan has killed at least 35 civilians. Many people were injured, including three Nato soldiers, officials say. | A bomb blast in southern Afghanistan has killed at least 35 civilians. Many people were injured, including three Nato soldiers, officials say. |
| The blast, apparently targeting Canadian troops in a Nato convoy, took place in Spin Boldak town in Kandahar province, near the Pakistani border. | The blast, apparently targeting Canadian troops in a Nato convoy, took place in Spin Boldak town in Kandahar province, near the Pakistani border. |
| A bomber in Kandahar city on Sunday killed more than 100 people - the country's bloodiest attack since 2001. | A bomber in Kandahar city on Sunday killed more than 100 people - the country's bloodiest attack since 2001. |
| Nato troops in Afghanistan have been battling a resurgent Taleban militia. | Nato troops in Afghanistan have been battling a resurgent Taleban militia. |
| Fifteen international troops have been killed in Afghanistan this year, most of them from the US. | Fifteen international troops have been killed in Afghanistan this year, most of them from the US. |
| Some 40,000 soldiers from Nato countries are deployed in the country, where their tasks include aiding reconstruction, tackling opium cultivation and battling the Taleban. | Some 40,000 soldiers from Nato countries are deployed in the country, where their tasks include aiding reconstruction, tackling opium cultivation and battling the Taleban. |
| Taleban blamed | Taleban blamed |
| Monday's attack in Spin Boldak targeted a convoy of Canadian troops serving under Nato. | Monday's attack in Spin Boldak targeted a convoy of Canadian troops serving under Nato. |
| Funerals for those killed in Sunday's attack were held on Monday | |
| According to Asadullah Khalid, the governor of Kandahar province, three Canadian troops were hurt in the attack. | According to Asadullah Khalid, the governor of Kandahar province, three Canadian troops were hurt in the attack. |
| "The suicide attacker detonated near a Canadian military convoy," the governor of Kandahar province, Asadullah Khalid, said. | "The suicide attacker detonated near a Canadian military convoy," the governor of Kandahar province, Asadullah Khalid, said. |
| He said 35 civilians were killed and 27 civilians were hurt. | He said 35 civilians were killed and 27 civilians were hurt. |
| The bomb also badly damaged a military vehicle and set fire to several shops in the area, a local police official said. | The bomb also badly damaged a military vehicle and set fire to several shops in the area, a local police official said. |
| The nearby border had been closed, as part of a series of security measures for Pakistani elections on Monday. | The nearby border had been closed, as part of a series of security measures for Pakistani elections on Monday. |
| According to the Associated Press news agency, the crossing was briefly opened to take some of those hurt in the blast to a hospital in the Pakistani town of Chaman nearby. | According to the Associated Press news agency, the crossing was briefly opened to take some of those hurt in the blast to a hospital in the Pakistani town of Chaman nearby. |
| Earlier on Monday, funerals were held in Kandahar for the victims of Sunday's suicide attack. | Earlier on Monday, funerals were held in Kandahar for the victims of Sunday's suicide attack. |
| MAJOR TALEBAN ATTACKS 29 Dec 2007: 16 policemen killed in Kandahar6 Nov 2007: At least 70 die in attack on sugar factory in Baghlan province29 Sep 2007: At least 30 soldiers killed in bus attack in Kabul 16 Jan 2006: At least 24 people killed in two attacks in Kandahar Deadliest Afghan attacksIn pictures: Kandahar blast | |
| Weeping relatives buried the dead, many of them in graves dug next to each other. | Weeping relatives buried the dead, many of them in graves dug next to each other. |
| Sunday's bombing - believed to be the bloodiest since the overthrow of the Taleban in 2001 - hit a crowd watching a dogfight near the city. | Sunday's bombing - believed to be the bloodiest since the overthrow of the Taleban in 2001 - hit a crowd watching a dogfight near the city. |
| The dead included a local police chief who also led a tribal militia opposed to the Taleban. | The dead included a local police chief who also led a tribal militia opposed to the Taleban. |
| Officials blamed the Islamist Taleban guerrillas but they have denied responsibility. | Officials blamed the Islamist Taleban guerrillas but they have denied responsibility. |
| Spreading influence | Spreading influence |
| The Taleban claim to have influence across most of the country and have extended their area of control from their traditional heartland in the south. | The Taleban claim to have influence across most of the country and have extended their area of control from their traditional heartland in the south. |
| They have a significant presence around Kandahar from where they carry out suicide attacks and roadside bomb blasts. | They have a significant presence around Kandahar from where they carry out suicide attacks and roadside bomb blasts. |
| The militants are also known to operate freely in Wardak province, neighbouring the capital Kabul. | The militants are also known to operate freely in Wardak province, neighbouring the capital Kabul. |
| Last year, violence in Afghanistan reached its highest levels since the Taleban were forced from power in 2001, analysts say. | Last year, violence in Afghanistan reached its highest levels since the Taleban were forced from power in 2001, analysts say. |
| Last November, a suicide bombing in the northern Baghlan province killed 79 people - mostly school pupils - in what was until then the bloodiest bombing since the Taleban were ousted in 2001. | Last November, a suicide bombing in the northern Baghlan province killed 79 people - mostly school pupils - in what was until then the bloodiest bombing since the Taleban were ousted in 2001. |