Afghanistan: Suicide bomb kills anti-Taliban elder

May 22, 2013 @ 9:07 am


An Afghan policeman sits on a wall on a mountain overlooking Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, May, 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Ahmad Jamshid) | Zoom

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A suicide bomber on foot killed an anti-Taliban village elder and at least three other people in a busy marketplace Wednesday in central Afghanistan, the latest in a wave of assassinations and bombings.

Habibullah Khan was killed along with two bodyguards and a civilian bystander in the afternoon attack in Ghazni province's Moqur district, police said. At least 14 civilians were wounded, most of them shoppers and merchants.

Deputy Provincial Police Chief Asadullah Insafi said Khan led an uprising last year against the Taliban's shadow government in his district, driving the insurgents out.

Taliban insurgents have pushed a campaign of assassinations of pro-government figures to try to weaken confidence in Afghan government ahead of the withdrawal of most international forces by the end of next year.

In the past week alone, a provincial council chief along with 13 others were killed in a suicide bombing at the council headquarters, and twin blasts killed nine people in an elite gated community for government officials and business owners outside of the southern city of Kandahar.

The Taliban seek to re-establish the strict interpretation of Islamic law they imposed for five years before being ousted in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion over its sheltering of al-Qaida's leadership.

Another common insurgent tactic is planting makeshift land mines on roads. A suspected bomb maker in Ghazni died Wednesday when explosives he was carrying on a bicycle went off without warning. Two bystanders were wounded, police said.

A motorcycle hit a roadside bomb in the southern province of Helmand on Wednesday. The driver was killed and three bystanders were wounded, said Deputy Provincial Police Chief Ghulam Rabbani Bahawi.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (23)


  • Add A Comment

  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Think the enemy targeted that chopper because they knew members of that team were on board?
    August 6, 2011 12:19 pm
    Or was it just a random luck shot at an American aircraft not knowing who was on board just Americans?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Prayers To Those Family Members
    August 6, 2011 1:53 pm
    We lost some true heroes that are out trying to rid the world of some bad apples. I wish we'd get out of the place altogether. I do respect these guys for doing what is needed in an awful place. I feel terrible for the family members caught up in this ugly war. My prayers are with them and those involved in this on going war.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • notmygov1 wrote...
    What we need to do
    August 6, 2011 3:28 pm
    We need to pull all of our troops out and NUKE these muslims now.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    how come the font
    August 6, 2011 3:55 pm
    on this article headline is smaller than the duck art article headline font? rip to all who perished, condolences to their families.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • R L M 456 wrote...
    how come the font on this article headline is smaller than the duck art article headline font?
    August 6, 2011 4:42 pm
    good question... very sad isn't it. Shows the value placed on life. write a bad check - get 5 years. Muder someone - out in 3 years
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • James turnner wrote...
    Well
    August 6, 2011 5:28 pm
    I hate all towel heads!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Edmund Fitzgerald wrote...
    God Bless our Troops
    August 7, 2011 5:24 am
    the Fallen and their Families. To Military families and Members: There are tens of millions of us out here who REALLY care and support you--always--unwavering! Don't ever forget that--even if today's current political climate/administration discounts you and your sacrifices. Patriotism will resurge. This is how many Colonists felt during the long fray and sufferings. Stay the course!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick1 wrote...
    RIP
    August 7, 2011 6:42 am
    RIP boys, these are the true american heros, to be a seal you have to be a very special person. Now....why the hello do we have the most advanced weapons and soldiers in the world fighting goat herders and losing. Some farmer on his camel on a hill is no threat to the US. Why are we really there? Obama and Bush are the same president,war machine.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SMarti018 wrote...
    Very sad day for the troops and there family's...
    August 7, 2011 1:23 pm
    But way to show some class guys!... "I hate all towel heads" "Lets just nuke all Muslims" That statement right there shows not only your racism but your complete lack of understanding of what the Taliban is... Example is that Im sure some of you are Christians? would you like to be associated with the westborow baptist church? or the "christian shooter" in Norway? they all consider themselves Christian right? And dont even try to argue that point because you cant! All racist people out really tick me off, Just because one select group does bad things doesn't mean you can associate them with the rest of the world! If you really believe that then you truly are a moron.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    SMarti018 you are certainly a hate filled racist bigot!
    August 7, 2011 2:25 pm
    Let's see, you hate Christians! No suprise there! You think the terrorist in Norway was Christian? I though that he was aryan? Why would you be condemning this man for what he did? He killed Christians according to your post. You should be overjoyed! Besides, the left wing media has been looking for a "Christian" boogyman for years! Well! Looks like they may have made one out of this man for you in your eyes! The state run media just had to go outside our nation to find one!

    Westboro Baptist church is NOT Christian. If it were not for the fact that they hated Homosexuals I would say that they are left wing parrots.

    MSNBC got you left wing parrots back on the racist kick again? It was about time.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    I have a very bad feeling that we will be seeing a lot more of this.
    October 29, 2011 3:43 pm
    Our enemies know that Obama is now pulling our forces out of Iraq and they will never be back. A least until November 2012. And that will give Iran plenty of time to walk into Iraq to take over that country and it's oil.

    Obama is hoping beyond hope that the Middle East gets no worse than it is today. I don't think that we are told even half of the dangers of the Middle East. And this suicide attack on the convoy is just another sign that Obama should not be in charge of our military. Much less our nation!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Very Good Ha Ha
    October 29, 2011 5:57 pm
    Let's bring back The GOP to save the day and bankrupt the nation over Afghanistan. Remember your history: no nations have ever conquered this country. The Soviets went in there FULL FORCE in the 80's. They didn't care one iota over civilian deaths and they still lost. By the way "bird brain," if you think Romney wins the nomination, he can't make changes until January 2013 and he won't win anyway. He "flip flops" worse than John Kerry. Nice catching up with you Ha Ha!
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