Afghanistan - pre-election violence

Wedding party deaths as Nato vows to strengthen security

Article published on the 2009-08-06 Latest update 2009-08-06 14:47 TU

A US soldier on patrol in the Pesh Valley in Afghanistan's Kunar Province, 1 August 2009. International forces in the country are facing stiff resistance ahead of the 20 August presidential elections
(Photo: Reuters: Tim Womborne)

A group of civilians were killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday after a roadside bomb blew up a farm tractor and its trailer. The group was on its way to a wedding, according to officials. Early reports said there were 21 dead but police later said five were killed.

Six people were also wounded in the blast in the southern Helmand province. The details of the attack emerged on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said that one US soldier was killed in western Afghanistan. The soldier was killed on Wednesday by a roadside bomb as troops engaged insurgents, according to an Isaf statement.

The attacks came as the new head of Nato Anders Fogh Rasmussen made his first visit to Afghanistan.

Speaking on Wednesday, Rasmussen vowed to strengthen efforts to counter the insurgency in the country, where international forces have faced continued attacks ahead of presidential elections on 20 August. The independent icasualties.org website says 76 foreign soldiers were killed in July and that ten have been killed so far this month.

Rasmussen said he was ready for “pragmatic steps” to improve security, including “talks with a number of groups within the Afghan society”.

"I think it is a prerequisite that the Afghan government can conduct the talks and negotiations from a position of strength,” he told reporters in Kabul. “There is no alternative whatsoever to continued and strengthened military efforts.”

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday that a strategy review by the commander of the international forces in Afghanistan, US General Stanley McChrystal, has been delayed. It said the report would not include a request for more troops.

According to Pentagon figures, there are currently more than 100,000 international soldiers in Afghanistan, including 62,000 US nationals.